Rarely has the issue of the motor vehicle’s environmental compatibility been discussed as intensely and with such emotion as it is today, with a strong emphasis on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In recent years, German carmakers have stepped up their efforts to deliver sustainable mobility solutions. An unprecedented show of technological expertise was recently on display for all to see at the 2007 International Auto Show in Frankfurt.
This wide range of “clean propulsion systems” represents the cutting edge of what is currently technologically and economically feasible. It demonstrates above all that there is strength in a diverse approach – maximum benefits can be gained by matching technologies to specific applications or regional requirements.
Many of the vehicles on display in Frankfurt represent the pinnacle of fuel-efficiency and clean emissions. Still, anyone who may have feared that environmental friendliness would come at the expense of driving pleasure, utility or comfort would have been reassured. The German automotive industry is proving that living up to ecological responsibilities and meeting the traditional needs and wants of the customer are not mutually exclusive. Our goal is to provide customers with sustainable mobility in an overall package that includes the highest level of safety and the greatest comfort, while delivering performance and driving pleasure.
Still, as welcome as recent advances are, tough challenges remain – and the German carmakers are squaring up to them. For our part, we intend to spearhead the development of innovative fuel-efficient technologies.
How does Mercedes-Benz intend to achieve this? We’ve adopted a modular technology strategy to give customers a wide variety of driveline options to tailor their vehicles to individual requirements and preferences.
In our Mercedes-Benz “Road to the Future” program we provide an overview of the innovative technology packages and products we will launch in the market through 2011. Our exhibits included production vehicles already available or scheduled for launch in the near future. Each one of them is proof that Mercedes-Benz Cars intends to remain a world leader – not just in terms of automotive safety, comfort and design but also in handling dynamics, performance and environmental protection.
We presented no fewer than 19 tangible examples of sustainable mobility solutions at the Frankfurt IAA, including seven hybrids, eight BLUETEC vehicles, seven CO2 champions, plus the F 700 research car with what we call DIESOTTO hybrid drive.
The drive system of the F 700 is absolutely unique. DIESOTTO represents a milestone in the process of making the gasoline engine as economical as the diesel by combining the best of gas and diesel engine technologies into a new package. Thanks to this intelligent combination, the F 700 consumes as little as 5.3 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (44.3 mpg) – despite its length of 5.17 meters – and emits just 127 grams of CO2/km. This corresponds to the current levels achieved by compact cars.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class with BLUETEC diesel, named the “World Green Car of the Year” at the New York International Auto Show 2007, – is already on the road today. We began selling this car in the United States a year ago, its market launch coinciding with the availability of clean low-sulfur diesel fuel. The E 320 BLUETEC has been a big success, which is remarkable development in a market where many customers have traditionally shunned diesel passenger cars. Initially, the car obtained approval for sale in 45 states in which certification is based on the BIN system. Since mid-October, the E 320 BLUETEC has also been available in California and the four northeastern states in which the more stringent LEV emissions norm is applicable. Mercedes-Benz is currently the only manufacturer which is permitted to offer diesel-engined passenger cars in all 50 states in the U.S. Later this year, we will introduce the BLUETEC E-Class – the world’s cleanest and most economical EU5 premium-class diesel passenger car – to the European market.
And that’s just the beginning. Other innovations leading to even greater eco-friendliness are in the pipeline. In the medium term we expect auto-ignition gasoline engines with direct fuel injection to make big inroads in the market. In combination with hybrid technology, for example, they will power even premium-class sedans with the economy and emissions of a small car. Additional opportunities will be afforded by the combination of BLUETEC diesel and battery-electric hybrid technologies, scheduled for introduction by Mercedes-Benz in 2010. We’ve highlighted the enormous fuel-saving potential of this modular technology concept in the S 300 BLUETEC HYBRID. Its four-cylinder engine with hybrid module delivers an output of 165 kW/224 hp and combined torque of 560 Newton meters – with fuel consumption of just 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers (43.5 mpg) – a class-leading figure in the S-Class’ segment. This engine not only meets the EU5 emission standard with ease, it will very likely do the same with the even more stringent EU6 standard currently under discussion or the U.S. BIN5 50-state standard.
So, the concept of cars that run with ever-lower emissions is becoming reality. Meanwhile, there have been considerable advances in battery technology, and the fuel cell is now moving out of the research and development phase. The battery-electric powered smart ed is already being tested in a pilot project in London, where 100 cars are operating under everyday conditions. An entire fleet of hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz vehicles is currently undergoing field testing worldwide. At Mercedes-Benz we have clocked more than 3.6 million kilometers in test vehicles such as the A-Class F-Cell, hydrogen-powered vans and fuel-cell buses. If you visited the IAA, you may have even experienced some of these kilometers yourself, as our CITARO fuel-cell buses were in regular service on each day the event was open to the public. The data we learn from such trials forms the basis on which we develop the relevant technology to meet production standards as early as possible. In 2010, we will launch a limited-production series of the new B-Class F-Cell with further improved fuel cell properties into the market.
The Frankfurt IAA provided emphatic proof of the direction Mercedes-Benz and German carmakers are taking. We are sensitive to the challenge of climate change –and meeting it head on.
Editorial by Dr. Dieter Zetsche in European CEO