<P> Tesla Motors, as part of its collaboration with Mercedes - Benz, is building electric powertrain components for the E-Cell . The 36 kWh battery contains approximately 4,000 individual lithium - ion cells . Mercedes has developed a modular system for electric vehicles with battery and fuel - cell . This system allows the efficient use of shared parts in all the brand's electric vehicles . Thanks to the modular approach the electric drive of the A ‐ Class E ‐ Cell is also used in the B ‐ Class F ‐ Cell, and the energy storage units in the A ‐ Class EV are the same as the battery in the Smart fortwo electric drive . </P> <P> A limited production of 500 A-Class E-Cell electric cars will be built, for trial purposes, at the Mercedes Rastatt plant, near Stuttgart beginning in September 2010 . As part of a demonstration program, the cars will be leased to selected customers in several European countries, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands . Daimler is not planning to sell the electric version outside Europe . </P> <P> It is a limited (300 units) version of 5 - door right drive A 180 for Japan market . It included calcite white body colour, black interior colour, sport package (chrome exhaust tip, 17 - inch 7 - spoke alloy wheels, chrome iridium silver front grille, stainless acceleration and brake pedals with rubber stud, leather wrapped sport steering wheel and silver shift knob, silver meter panel), bi-xenon headlight and headlight washer, cornering lights, fog lamp (front / rear), rain sensor, sun visor with illuminating mirror, anti-glare mirror,' Final Edition' emblem, floor mat with' Final Edition' silver logo plate . </P> <P> The vehicle went on sale in 2012 - 05 - 28 . </P>

When did the new mercedes a class come out