Mercedes-Benz to Produce Hybrid with Lithium Ion Battery
by Andrew Posner, Rhode Island, USA on 03. 4.08
Late last week Mercedes-Benz unveiled plans for the S400 BlueHybrid which, "unless someone else jumps in first. . .will be the first production automotive hybrid in the world to use a lithium ion battery." We first covered the concept in September, but now more details have become available. The vehicle will be powered by a 3.5 Liter V-6 gas engine and a 15KW electric generator/motor. In concept models shown previously, the lithium ion battery (which is significantly smaller than the nickel-metal hydride (NIMH) batteries hybrids currently use) was "small enough to be mounted under-hood so that it doesn't intrude on trunk space." This has several advantages, including enabling engineers to " integrate the battery with the vehicle climate control system to regulate its temperature ensuring optimal performance."
Of course, given that the S400 is a large, heavy, powerful vehicle, even with the lithium ion/hybrid drivetrain the BlueHybrid will not be the most efficient vehicle on the road. Just what kind of mileage will it get? Find out after the fold.
According to a European standard for measuring fuel economy, known as the New European Driving Cycle (which averages city and highway driving) the BlueHybrid will get 29.8 miles per gallon. Of course, a Toyota Yaris, which is far less expensive, gets 40 miles per gallon on a non-hybrid drivetrain. Still, the S400 is the flagship of the Mercedes lineup, so it's great to see improvements in its efficiency. And better yet, this vehicle will actually be available to consumers (at least those that will be able to produce its undoubtedly hefty price tag) " in calendar 2009 in both North America and Europe along with the ML450 hybrid. The ML450 also uses the 3.5L V-6 but it's combined with the two-mode hybrid system. More Mercedes models using the mild hybrid will be launched eventually as well including diesel hybrids."
The real innovation here is the deployment of lithium ion battery technology in the vehicle. Until now, lithium ion batteries have dominated the consumer electronics market, but difficulties in adapting them to the rigors of automotive applications have forced manufacturers to stick with NIMH batteries. With Tesla already producing pure electric vehicles with the lighter and more efficient batteries, and Mercedes and others about to roll out hybrids that make use of them, it won't be long before we'll see them used more widely in automotive contexts.
Via: ::Autobloggreen
See Also: ::Mercedes-Benz to Market an Emissions Free Vehicle, ::Lithium Polymer Batteries, a Review, ::Hygenius: Mercedes' Fuel Cell Hybrid, ::Mercedes-Benz Offers Leather Free Option in All Cars, ::Top 12 Greenest and Meanest Cars in the USA and ::Nano-Tech Batteries May Rival Lithium-Ions in Hybrids
That's great that mercedes is doing a hybrid. This ensures that other luxury carmakers will be following suit. Personally, I think they should have gone with a diesel hyrid, run that puppy on veggie oil, and you're good to go.
It doesn't have to be the most efficient vehicle on the road, as long as it's more efficient than what's currently available is really the most important point. S Class vehicles will always be relatively big & heavy until new technology is available which is necessitated by the fact that those vehicles are marketed to people that have certain expectations such as ride, features, build quality, etc. Sure a Yaris gets twice the fuel mileage but it's a pint sized vehicle in comparison. Mbz will always be stretching within the realms of practicality the outer limits of technology.
That's a pic of a previous generation S Class you have up there. Flashback to 2000. Oh no, two more Bush terms!
The key has always been for the large (luxury) car makers to adopt earth-friendlier technologies simply because they have the highest brand recognition and largest advertising spend to hammer the message home in the consumer's mind that "green" is the way to go.
From a marketing point of view "15kW Lithium-ion Power" sounds much more luxorious and Earth friendly than "12V Nickel Metal Hydride Power".
When I think of the latter I picture battery acid oozing into a landfill.
Johnson Controls and Saft are opening a plant to produce this lithium-ion batteries for Mercedes, GM, etc. in Angoulême, France (manufacture is located near my home).
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e18eb6f4-cf63-11dc-854a-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1
http://www.saftbatteries.com/000-corporate/pdf/JCS-08-03_eng.pdf
Now Merc goes green? Really? That's the reason why people will buy it? It seems as if everything is turning green nowadays. And people just can’t understand why consumers aren’t buying more of it. Not rocket science – really. People buy for many reasons – not just the environmental impact. You think you can sell a “green” blow-up doll? Maybe look at functionality, price, quality etc first before turning everything green. Then we can start changing the consumers. More on this on my blog at http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/make-it-better-can-i-interest-you-in-a-green-blow-up-doll/
Are you sure about the "gas" v-6? BlueHybrid sounds like a play on BlueTec, their diesel program. And MB makes a new Bluetec 3.5l diesel V6. And a V8 for their flagship S. I haven't heard about a new gas 3.5l engine; just checking...
geneva show is great this year. looking forward to next