Busch 46816 H0 Mercedes-Benz W123 T-model - electric drive test car

Busch 46816 H0 - new

Mercedes-Benz W123 T-model

Electric drive test car

Attempts were made to develop vehicles with electric drives early on. Mercedes tested this back in 1982 with the W123 electric drive. Due to the fuel crisis of 1979, a special touring station wagon was equipped with a hybrid electric drive for experimental tests. This drive consisted of a 41 hp electric motor (range 100 km) and a 2-cylinder range extender engine (for an additional 50 km range). Unfortunately, the engineers experienced so many setbacks during the testing phase in 1982 and 1983 that the entire project was put on hold. Parallel to these tests, Mercedes presented the first battery-electric research passenger car in the W123 series in Hanover in 1982 with a 30kW (41 hp) electric drive and nickel-iron battery.