Starting at $41,450 (£24,500) excluding delivery and tax credits for electric vehicles (which can be up to $7,500 depending on the state) the B-Class is only $100 more than key rival the BMW i3.

It also marks the first time Mercedes-Benz has sold the B-Class in North America, here using a 177hp electric drivetrain and under-floor lithium-ion battery supplied by Californian manufacturer Tesla.

A full charge, via its J1772 connection, takes between two and 3.5 hours, giving a range of 85 miles. The B-Class Electric Drive reaches 62mph in 7.9 seconds, has a controlled top speed of 100mph, and drivers can select between Efficiency and Sport modes depending on the route ahead.

Regenerative braking is also variable, with three strengths available and a radar-based cruise control system which uses the motor braking to charge the battery depending on the speed of traffic ahead.

Equipment includes Becker navigation, the internet-connected mbrace2 system with remote control of charging and an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty and roadside assistance package on the battery.

Deliveries begin this summer in California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont, while 50-state availability will be announced next year.