The A-Class E-Cell electric car will begin production later this year, and Mercedes-Benz will produce an initial batch of 500 cars, to be offered on lease to customers in selected European countries, such as the Netherlands, Germany and France.

The A-Class E-Cell will be powered by an electric motor that produces up to 95bhp and 290Nm of torque. During normal usage, average power output will be around 68bhp, which allows the car to go from 0-100km/h in 14 seconds, and reach a top speed of 150km/h.

The electric motor will be run with two lithium-ion batteries, and have a range of 200km on a full charge. Recharging the vehicle takes about eight hours through a standard 230V household power socket, but the time can be halved when it is charged through a special 400V public recharge point or a specialized wall-box.

The car's charged status can be monitored over the Internet or through smart phones, and other features on the A-Class E-Cell electric vehicle include pre-start climate control, a customized display unit, Mercedes-Benz's' COMAND satellite-navigation and infotainment unit, and bi-xenon headlights.