Driving an electric Mercedes really is fun!
recently got the opportunity to spend some time with the Mercedes-Benz EQB, an SUV that only has an electric motor, no internal-combustion engine. And it was a lot of fun.
I have had the privilege to drive BMW’s iX40 some time ago. Although I only managed to spend half an afternoon with it, but it was an eye-opener. So, I did not expect to experience such a “wow” feeling when I got to drive the EQB from the other big German manufacturer.
With the benefit of hindsight, it was probably because the EQB was not very pleasing to my eye. Where the GLE and GLC – and even the GLA – look quite sporty and able, the EQB’s design is a little demure. Although the wheels promise that this is something special, the stance is a little low and, dare I say it, almost frumpy.
But that is an impression that does not survive a second further than after you have closed the door. The sporty thick-rimmed steering wheel with lots of buttons, the digital instrument cluster, and the vents that look like turbines, immediately tell you that had judged way too quickly – and harshly.
The EQB is luxurious, not exactly surprising in a German SUV. But it is also very comfortable and, despite the dazzling array of electronic technology literally at your fingertips, this is a very easy car to drive, and it only takes a short while to get used to the controls of all the features.
Driving the EQB
I have no idea how long it will take to get used to “starting” an electric car but not hearing an engine rumble – or feel the slight vibration of the engine – but I can tell you, it is not within two days.
Like most modern cars, the EQB has a keyless-start function. When you press the start button without putting your foot on the brake, all the electrics come on – like a key in the old “ACC” position – but the car will not go anywhere.
If you do that with your foot on the brake, you can shift the transmission into Drive, release the brake and put your right foot on the accelerator. And man, can this thing accelerate. Seriously…
Filling up
Although an electric car takes some getting used to, the EQB was not intimidating – or puzzling – to drive. It is an incredibly able and versatile car. Driving in traffic, it is quiet, and the sound system isolates you from the noise and bustle on the street. According to Joshua Jivaruthanum, Garden City Motors dealer principal, he commutes with the EQB and a full charge – a full tank of Watts – lasts longer than a week.
The EQB comes standard with what is called the Wallbox, 7,4kW charger that is installed in your garage at home. It can be upgraded to a 22kW version for an extra R18 000. The EQB also has a five-metre charging cord that can plug into a standard household plug.
A smartphone app allows the owner to programme charging times – and to set the temperature that you want the car’s interior to be when you leave on your journey.
According to Mercedes-Benz, it will cost around R220 to fully charge the EQB’s 66,5kWh battery. That should give an average range of more than 400km (423km claimed), and according to Mercedes’s calculations, the EQB will cost around 52 cents per kilometre to run. There is simply no way that any internal-combustion engine can give the same fuel consumption.
Other people’s impressions
I showed the EQB to quite a few people while I had it. I went to meetings and also followed up on work being done to my car. And as it is a demonstration vehicle, I took quite a few people for a drive in the car. All of them were sceptical about electric cars and, without fail, they were all impressed – if not shocked – when we returned.
Firstly, the performance is very difficult to describe. You must experience it because it is like nothing you have ever experienced before. When you plant your right foot on the loud (silent?) pedal, the EQB does not rush away, it explodes away. Two passengers’ heads rocked back into the head restraints, and I saw them turn pale. This from a car that certainly looks modern and technologically advanced, but not exciting.
There are some loud objections to electric cars, but once you have driven one, you might feel differently.
Objection no 1: Electric cars are too expensive.
Maybe, but all new cars are. And keep in mind that the EQB is as luxurious as any top-level German car. The pricing for our test vehicle, the range-topping EQB 350 4MATIC starts at R1 381 250, but the list of optional extras takes up 12 of the 16 pages of the price-list booklet.
But the GLC, the similar-sized and similar-specced GLC will cost basically the same. And from the first time that you fill the fuel tank, the EQB makes more sense.
Objection no 2: Electric cars will not work, because of Eskom and load shedding.
The only scenario where I see this as a problem, is if you forgot to recharge the car’s battery. But it needs less regular recharging than a fuel tank needs refilling. And if you are in the habit of running out of fuel, then chances are that you might also be caught on the side of the road with a flat battery. But surely by now we all have the load-shedding schedule on our phones?
One issue that you cannot get past, though, is that a trip to the coast will not quite be the speed-record-setting trip it used to be. Because if you drive sanely, you are looking at a charge range of 423km.
But the good news is that companies like GridCars are rolling out recharging stations in places you would need them, such as shopping centres. And filling stations on the highways. And the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox, is actually a GridCars product. Yes, a South African company.
The EQB range consists of the EQB 250, EQB 250+, EQB 300 4MATIC, and the EQB 350 4MATIC. They have the same electric propulsion that delivers 215kW from the word go and accelerates to 100km/h in 6,2 seconds – although it feels much faster.
Final impression
The biggest surprise for me was how much fun it was to drive the EQB. And that was my lasting impression.
There is a lot of resistance to electric cars in the market. I think that is because we still love the sound of a burbling V8, or a screaming high-performance four-cylinder engine. And also because we all are so fed-up with Eskom. But go and drive an electric car – like the EQB – and then have an informed opinion on these fun cars.
Test car from Garden City Motors, Nelspruit. Contact Michael Mzimela on 084 986 4579 to arrange a test drive and tell him I sent you.
