How Far Can the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e Go on Battery Power?
It’s entirely possible to accomplish your daily routine without using a drop of gas.
We recently spent some time with the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e 4Matic. It’s an impressive luxury SUV, specifically the upgraded PHEV powertrain—for no additional cost over the regular GLE 450. A larger, 23.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and healthy 381 combined horsepower make this the best of both worlds, but just how much EV does this PHEV offer? As it turns out, quite a lot.
More electric range than the average daily drive
According to the US Department of Transportation, the average yearly mileage for drivers was 13,476 miles (21,688 kilometers) in 2021. That equates to just under 37 miles a day (59 km). Naturally, the average doesn’t fully illustrate the difference between weekday and weekend drives. Even still, the big Merc is officially quoted at 48 miles (77 km) of all-electric range.
That’s plenty to cover the average, and assuming you’re heading to the office as part of said commute, it’s possible to even top up there. GLE 450e buyers have a few different options on that front, too…
Fast-charging PHEV
Now that big ol’ battery pack does make for a looong charge time on a standard 120-volt setup. Like, an entire day long. But a Level 2 240-volt charger will fill the whole battery quicker than you can watch The Lord of the Rings (about three hours). Not bad.
The GLE 450e has an added trick up its well-tailored sleeve, however. Mercedes has joined the small cadre of brands to offer DC fast-charging on plug-in hybrids. Sure, the rate is capped at 60 kW, which isn’t even a third of what the three-pointed star EVs can achieve. Yet that translates to a complete recharge in less than half an hour, or a top-up to 80 percent in under 20 minutes. If you need a quick electron equivalent to the splash-and-dash, the GLE 450e will oblige—although in Canada, unlocking DC capability is an additional $650 CAD.
All of this may matter less too, all because…
Official figures are conservative
It’s something we’ve seen with a few German EVs, starting with the Porsche Taycan, and it seemingly translates to the PHEVs too: the official range figures are relatively easy to beat. In the early days of winter, on the efficiency-sapping rubber that comes with the season, the GLE 450e was showing the signs of continuing this trend. While we couldn’t get an entire full-to-empty battery run out of it, usage hovered around 28 kWh / 100 km, or 2.22 miles per kWh. In better weather, and with a usage mix skewed more towards the battery-friendly city? It’s not unreasonable to think the GLE could hit the magical 62 mile (100 km) mark.
What’s more, the GLE’s electric motor is powerful enough to haul it around on its own. It’s not traditionally quick, but it’s adequate for the sort of sedate progress we want in a luxury SUV.
Add it all up, and it’s easy to see why the 450e is our current pick of the GLE family. It offers all the advantages of BEVs in short bursts, without the associated range anxiety for longer trips.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
More by Kyle Patrick
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Hopefully the hybrid GLC will be available in the US soon.
Euro Trash.