- First patented integration of a lithium-ion battery into a series-
produced passenger car
- Available in Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID starting in 2009
- 25 patents for top technology 'made in Germany'
STUTTGART, Germany, Feb. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Daimler AG has
achieved a crucial breakthrough in battery technology. The Stuttgart-based
automaker is the world's first manufacturer to have succeeded in adapting
lithium-ion technology to the demanding requirements of automotive
applications. Until now, the technology has been used primarily in consumer
electronics. The new battery will be used in the series-production S 400
BlueHYBRID beginning next year. This important technology was possible
thanks to 25 patents held by Daimler.
Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler AG Board of Management and
responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, says:
"What we have here is a groundbreaking key technology that is going to be a
decisive factor for the future success of the automotive industry. That is
a tribute to our intensive research efforts, which we have been conducting
in this area since 1992."
The engineers' success is above all a result of the Daimler-developed
integration of the lithium-ion battery into the vehicle's climate control
system. This ensures that the battery always works at optimal system
temperatures of between 15 and 35 degrees C, which in turn makes it
possible for the battery to provide long service life and maximum
performance.
The main advantages offered by the newly developed lithium-ion battery
are its very compact dimensions and its far superior performance compared
to conventional nickel-metal hydride batteries. The weight/power ratio of
the entire battery is 1,900 watts per liter (W/L). What's more, the battery
stands out by virtue of its high ampere-hour efficiency, long service life,
and great reliability, even at very low temperatures. Its high level of
safety is the equal of that provided by today's auto batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries are ideally suited for use in hybrid vehicles to
help reducing fuel consumption and thus also CO2 emissions. At the same
time, the Daimler engineers are investigating to what degree this
technology can be applied to other vehicle concepts, such as electric and
fuel cell-powered cars.
S 400 BlueHYBRID -- the world's most economical luxury sedan
The S 400 BlueHYBRID consumes only 7.9 liters of gasoline per 100 km in
the NEDC. This results in very low CO2 emissions of only 190 grams per
kilometer, a very low value for this vehicle class and power class, making
the S 400 BlueHYBRID the world's most economical luxury sedan -- unrivaled
by any gasoline, diesel, or hybrid drive system offered by any competitor.
And S 400 BlueHYBRID drivers will still enjoy impressive performance:
combined with the hybrid module, the maximum output is 220 kW/299 hp, and
the corresponding maximum torque is 375 Nm. The S 400 BlueHYBRID
accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds on its way to an
electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Even more potential is offered by the combination of clean BlueTec
diesel technology with a hybrid module, a duo that is featured in the S 300
BlueTec HYBRID, for example.
About Daimler
Daimler AG, Stuttgart, with its businesses Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler
Trucks, Daimler Financial Services, Mercedes-Benz Vans, and Daimler Buses,
is a globally leading producer of premium passenger cars and the world's
largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles. The Daimler Financial Services
division offers a broad range of financial services, including vehicle
financing, leasing, insurance, and fleet management. Daimler sells its
products in nearly all the countries of the world and has production
facilities on five continents. The company's founders, Gottlieb Daimler and
Carl Benz, continued to make automotive history following their invention
of the automobile in 1886. As an automotive pioneer, Daimler AG willingly
accepts its obligation to act responsibly toward society and the
environment and to shape the future of safe and sustainable mobility with
groundbreaking technologies and high- quality products. The current brand
portfolio includes the world's most valuable automobile brand,
Mercedes-Benz, as well as smart, Maybach, Freightliner, Sterling, Western
Star, Mitsubishi Fuso, Setra, Orion, and Thomas Built Buses. The company is
listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt, New York, and Stuttgart (stock
exchange abbreviation DAI). In 2007 the Group sold 2.1 million vehicles and
employed a workforce of over 270,000 people. Revenues totaled euro 99.4
billion and EBIT amounted to euro 8.7 billion. Daimler is an automotive
group with a commitment to excellence, which aims to achieve sustainable
growth and industry-leading profitability.
Additional information from Daimler is available on the Internet at:
http://www.media.daimler.com
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SOURCE Daimler AG
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Related links:
http://www.media.daimler.com
CONTACT:
Han Tjan, +1-212-909-9063, or Christoph Horn,
+49-711-17-75841, or Matthias Brock, +49-711-17-91404, all of
Daimler AG
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