Originally published February 12 2006
Mercedes says its new hybrids provide fuel efficiency without sacrificing luxury, performance
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
According to famed German luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz, the new S-Class hybrids developed by the company provide all the fuel efficiency people want from a hybrid car, without sacrificing any of the performance or luxury that drivers have come to associate with Mercedes vehicles.
FIRST CLASS GREENIES: Mercedes-Benz says its hybrid concept cars provide improved fuel consumption and emissions without sacrificing performance or comfort.
Frankfurt, Germany - Mercedes-Benz is testing two hybrid concept cars based on the S-class chassis that combine an optimised petrol or diesel engine with a hybrid system and the latest exhaust purification.
DaimlerChrysler board member Thomas Weber said: "The objective is to make petrol cars as efficient as diesels and diesels as clean as petrol cars."
'The objective is to make petrol cars as efficient as diesels and diesels as clean as petrol cars'.
The "Bluetec Hybrid" diesel is based on the three-litre V6 in the new S-class but reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by about 80 percent through selective catalytic reduction -- making it, according to Weber, the cleanest diesel in the world.
Each car has an electric motor in the drive train to make what DaimlerChrysler calls "a mild hybrid".
The combustion engine switches off whenever it is not needed, especially in city traffic, but it works with the electric motor for smooth, powerful acceleration.
The drive system of the Bluetec Hybrid diesel, Merc says, is capable of 179kW and 575Nm and 0-100km/h in 7.2sec with an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.
Mercedes is also helping to develop cleaner fuels and fuel alternatives which can go a long way towards reducing emissions, the company says, because they immediately make all vehicles cleaner, not just new cars.
In an ideal case, the CO2 produced by the combustion of biogenic fuels will be balanced by that absorbed by the plants during their growth.
Mercedes-Benz has more than 100 fuel-cell vehicles, from cars to buses, engaged in road trials worldwide and its A-class fuel-cell fleet has covered about 440 000km.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml