Pop-culture icon and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger recently partnered (to some degree or another) with the Austrian firm Kreisel Electric to create an all-electric version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
A video of Schwarzenegger test driving the new Mercedes-Benz G350d EV conversion in Kitzbuehel, Austria (he was apparently attending the Hahnenkamm ski race) was released. You can watch it here:
The conversion reportedly features a real-world range of 186 miles per full charge, achieved through the installation of an 80 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack. The vehicle can reportedly be recharged to 80% capacity in fewer than 25 minutes (the vehicle can charge at up to 150 kW).
Autoblog provides more:
“Despite weighing well over 5,000 pounds (the batteries alone weigh 1,124 pounds), the Junior star’s newest toy can do 0-62 mph in a respectable 5.6 seconds thanks to a pair of electric motors producing a combined 360 kW — about 482 horsepower.
“Replacing a diesel powertrain with an electric one is a particularly fitting metaphor for the direction mobility is headed. Especially in Europe, where diesel is popular and regulations are tightening, automakers are looking to produce more EVs. While this G-Wagen is a prototype, Schwarzenegger will be driving it around California, providing Kreisel with valuable feedback (and publicity) for its development of electric powertrains. Like a number of other automakers and parts suppliers, Kreisel sees a business opportunity in the growth of electrification, and is even looking beyond transportation to stationary energy storage as well.”
It’s an interesting video. Worth a watch, in my opinion. Schwarzenegger is as enthusiastic as ever.
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