How much can save fuel, a hybrid drive really? Mercedes has made the environmental benefits of its first hybrid model S 400 Hybrid test by TÜV Süd.
The hybrid drive is considered as an effective means to reduce the fuel consumption of vehicles and thus to protect the environment. Critics of the concept, however, complain that the production and disposal of the batteries that need every hybrid car care, in turn, for environmental damage. For these effects to counterbalance each other, and to investigate the environmental impact of its first series hybrids, Daimler has made the S 400 Hybrid certified by TÜV Süd.
Object of the investigation was therefore not only the fuel consumption, but the whole life cycle of the S-Class from production through the use phase and disposal. Join over 40,000 individual processes were under scrutiny, whose analysis, computation and evaluation ultimately produce a comprehensive eco have profile.
With the first lithium-ion batteryAs the worlds first production car, the S 400 has a hybrid drive with a lithium-ion battery. The combination of a further developed, in Atkinson combustion cycle running V6 petrol engine with a compact hybrid module ZF Sachs makes this model the most economical luxury saloon with a petrol engine. The fuel consumption of 7.9 liters per 100 kilometers (NEDC combined) corresponds to carbon dioxide emissions of 186 grams per kilometer. The combined output of combustion and electric drive is 220 kW/299 hp, maximum torque Nm 385th
The savings over a conventional internal combustion engine is mainly due to the following features: the start-stop function switches the engine off automatically when the car stops - for example at traffic lights. When braking, the electric motor is running as a generator and feeds energy into the battery. If necessary, this energy helps when accelerating - so developers can use a smaller and thus more fuel-efficient engine.
21 percent less consumptionFor comparison calculations of the Environment certificate the auditors the S 400 hybrid the gasoline model to S 350th Hundred kilometers on this version consumed 10.0 to 10.2 liters (depending on tires). This value under the hybrid offers clear: He is satisfied with 7.9 to 8.1 liters per 100 kilometers. This represents a decrease of 21 percent. The CO2 emissions of 186-189 grams per kilometer.
Throughout its life cycle from production, use and recycling over 300,000 km, the S 400 Hybrid caused by this study 18 percent less CO2 emissions than the comparative model. This saving per vehicle corresponds to about 1.6 times the annual per-capita emissions of an average European (source: European Environment Agency).
This season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 17. Testing starts in Jerez, Spain, next week.
