Siemens VDO showing off two motor Mercedes hybrid demonstrator
At the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan, this week, supplier Siemens VDO is displaying a Mercedes C230 modified with a hybrid powertrain. The system uses two electric motors with one of them mounted on the front of the engine to provide stop-start capability and regenerative braking. The second motor replaces the torque converter between the 1.8L gas engine and the automatic transmission to drive the car. Siemens estimates that the system can reduce the fuel consumption of the Mercedes by twenty percent. The car is also equipped with lithium ion batteries.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sunny 7:10PM (8/07/2007)
that's so cool! i love hearing about luxury cars going green! I think that as long as the rich and beautiful embrace eco efficient cars, so will all the wanna-bes (me included :)
ps.. i'm so glad this site exists. AutoBlogGreen is one of the best sites out there for news on green technology (CarDEvotion.cm is one of the others
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Sunny 7:12PM (8/07/2007)
But, I do think that a BMW is a better car than a Benz, and I'd be even more excited to hear about them having a green revolution... BMers are classier, somehow.
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Kelly O\\\'Brien 10:37AM (8/08/2007)
Sadly, Sunny, BMW and Porsche have flaunted CAFE standards in the U.S. - preferring to pay per-vehicle fines (the cost of which is no doubt passed down to the consumer), rather than comply.
So, regardless of the "fun" factor, neither of these companies get my dough until they clean up their act.
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