Mercedes-Benz Ramps Up Hybrid Plans

By Global Auto Systems Staff

Every new passenger-car model to be hybrid compatible from now on, says Mercedes-Benz chairman Dieter Zetsche.
STUTTGART—Mercedes-Benz has cast its hat into the hybrid ring with confirmation that all its future models, from the entry level A-Class to its top-of-the-line S-Class, will be developed to support the option of hybrid drive.
In an interview with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, chairman Dieter Zetsche indicated the company’s current philosophy of favoring the diesel engine over hybrid-drive technology has been overturned, citing pressure from customers. “We won’t develop any future models without a hybrid option,” Zetsche said, adding, “We will offer our customers the right product.”
Zetsche is being careful not to give away too many details about the German carmaker’s future hybrid plans, possibly for fear that it may play into the hands of rival Toyota, whose upmarket Lexus brand already sells the GS450H, RX400H, and LS600H alongside more conventional gasoline-engined siblings.
However, he indicates that initial models to be offered by Mercedes-Benz will be mild hybrids, in which the car’s gasoline or diesel engine is supplemented by an electric motor to provide added performance, lower fuel consumption, and reduced CO2 emissions. A full hybrid, as favored by Toyota, has the ability to run on exclusively on electric power for zero-emissions compatibility over short to medium distances.
No clear time frame for the introduction of Mercedes-Benz’s first true hybrid has been established, although insiders say it will likely be another two years before sales begin, hinting at a 2009 on-sale date.
“We will combine our knowhow with BMW in a bid to accelerate development,” he said, referring to announcement made by Mercedes-Benz and BMW last week on a landmark cooperation to jointly develop hybrid technology. “With a mild hybrid we can obtain up to 70 percent of the effect offered by a full hybrid with just 30 percent of the effort.”
Before Mercedes-Benz begins offering mild hybrid models of its own, however, Zetsche indicates other technologies will be introduced. Among them is a start/stop system similar to that introduced by BMW on the face-lifted 1-series destined for the European market. Other technology under investigation at Mercedes-Benz’s Stuttgart engineering headquarters is a new alternator that decouples from the engine under acceleration.