► Month 10 with the Merc S500 PHEV
► It’s time to say goodbye to the hybrid
► Fuel consumption not what it says on the tin
There is no denying that a long-wheelbase S-class sends the wrong message to the Save the Whales generation. But even hardcore Greens prick their ears when this 2140kg electroboat glides past them, almost noiselessly, majestic yet earth-friendly. The aha-effect is then confirmed by the full-scale PLUGIN HYBRID farewell lettering on the bootlid. I have learned to read minds in this car, in particular the mimic transition from ‘here comes Kroesus’ to ‘a millionaire with a social streak, good luck to him.’ It’s in town, in E-mode, below 40mph, when what is now sold as 500e makes captain courteous feel most content with himself. After all, he is at the helm of the world’s most environment-friendly luxury car this side of a Tesla Model S charged with CO2-neutral electricity. And yet this can only be the starting point of the e-revolution, a truly admirable effort which is nonetheless counting down the months until it is bettered by the next chapter in the book Modern Alternative Drivetrains.
Life with the most complete Mercedes ever has become kind of a black-and-white routine. The bright side depends on the availability of devices you can plug into. Last December it was no problem to find a free hook-up lot at the airport, shopping mall or public parking. Now, Greater Munich’s entire 220V infrastructure seems to be occupied 24/7. Timing is of the essence, in more ways than one. While 116 electric horses and the instant torque they generate provide plenty of extra punch, when compared to the 70kWh of the most basic all-electric Tesla, the Merc’s 8.7kWh power core can only do so much. Like promise a zero-emission range of 20 miles – which halves as soon as you join the autobahn.
Ready for Charge is the most often displayed icon. When you leave home with a brimmed charge in Hybrid mode, the ever-hungry lithium ion cells await feeding again after 30 miles. Although the V6 petrol engine will do that when you hit the charge button, this defies the purpose and only makes sense when approaching a restricted area like a low-emission city centre. I have a hunch that my big Benz is only an interim solution. Although fairly priced at roughly the same level as the 455bhp S500, the PHEV version is bound to age more quickly due to the fast progress of battery technology, e-motors and performance electronics. Coming soon are smaller, lighter energy packs with shorter charge cycles and EV ranges of, eventually, 60 miles.
Like the S400 mild hybrid before it and the 48V P290 after it, S SK 4207 is thus kind of a time capsule, a production car about to become a piece of auto history. It was sensationally advanced when I first got it, but it will soon be overtaken. Think of it as a smartphone on wheels, best before June 2017 when the facelifted S-class is due. Don’t get me wrong: the white dominates the black. There is always enough AC/DC available in standby mode to out-sprint that 5-series at the lights, but this unique no-noise supremacy, the surprise and delight as you hush past pedestrians, the strong social acceptance fusing with blatant opulence – all these positive impressions last 45 minutes max.
Despite its strengths, I wouldn’t have chosen the S-class; had it been available, I would have opted for the less extrovert C350e. Even so, I do feel a bit like a pioneer now, and I am ready for the next level of electromobility as soon as it becomes available.
I won’t miss the Merc for the stubborn charge cable (which never is quite long enough) or for the complicated controls, but as far as the driver enviroment goes, this is Hermès and Loro Piana combined; those seats are incredible; the Burmester audio is sublime; the optional equipment deserves 11 out of ten on the fancifulness chart.
What’s next in the Kacher garage? Maybe a Jaguar XJ-C V12 resto project, perhaps a used Cayman. Seems that, for the time being, my thirst for ultra high-tech has been quenched.
Count the cost
Cost new: £113,211 (in Germany and including £32,974 of options)
Dealer sale price: £76,730
Private sale price: £73,077
Part-exchange price: £69,443
Cost per mile: 14p
Cost per mile including depreciation: £3.14
From the driving seat
+ Either nearly silent or very quiet
+ Exceptional ride comfort
+ Goes like stink when you feel like it
+ Okay consumption for this kind of car
+ Palatial accommodation, quality second to none
– Real-life electric range disappoints
– Compromised by smaller boot and cable salad
Logbook: Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid
Engine: 2996cc 24v V6 turbo petrol with plug-in hybrid electric drive, 436bhp @ 5000rpm, 354lb ft @ 1600rpm
Gearbox: 7-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Stats: 5.2sec 0-62mph, 155mph, 65g CO2/km
Price: €109,778
As tested: €154,890
Miles on test: 12,372
Total miles: 38,973
Our mpg: 27.0
Official mpg: 100.8
Fuel cost overall: £2036.09
Extra costs overall: £0