An insider's view: Merc's future green technology

A multi-faceted approach seems to be the road Mercedes is taking to the future of mobility. Dr Weber discusses hybrids, electric vehicles and how the internal combustion engine still has plenty of life left in it.

As Member of the Board of Management Daimler AG responsible for Group Research and Development of Mercedes-Benz cars Dr Thomas Weber's task isn't one to be taken lightly. Overseeing Mercedes' goal of a 'path to sustainable mobility' Dr Weber has to ensure that Mercedes is able to offer future looking technology today and green machines for all our tomorrows. That's a task that's as wide and varied as the audience he helps shape cars for, Weber admitting that the company's objective is: "emission-free driving by means of electric drive with fuel cell and battery-powered vehicles."

Motivating forces

Weber tells us that the eventual electrification is necessary for a number of reasons. He says: "climate change is a fact," and that: "peak oil, maximum oil production could come as early as 2020." It's this, as well as technological advancement and customer acceptance of alternatively powered vehicles that is pushing Mercedes ahead with its plans for an alternatively powered future.

Life in combustion engines yet

Although the eventual goal of Mercedes is for a zero emissions battery and fuel cell fleet Weber says that there's plenty of life left in the combustion engine. Indeed, it's a key part of the company's strategy towards a greener future. Optimisation of existing technologies is already allowing Mercedes to offer cars with all the performance that customers demand, but with economy and emissions figures that would have been thought impossible as recently as ten years ago. With Mercedes this drive is pushed through its BlueEFFICIENCY brand, the company finessing and optimising everything from airflow, to engine friction, turbocharging, tyre rolling resistance and fuel injection, which along with technology such as energy recuperating devices and stop-start systems bring hugely significant economy and emissions benefits to cars in showrooms right now.

With a little help from batteries

Hybrids inevitably offer the next step, with the addition of battery assistance to already efficient engines driving economy and emissions to the next level. Mercedes is already working on hybrids, the S 400 Hybrid on sale in Europe and the USA, and hybrid versions of its SUV range coming very soon indeed. With modern hybrids quite astonishing economy is possible, Dr Weber comments: "diesel hybrids offer the best opportunities, if everything is employed in an S-Class over 70mpg is possible."

Batteries take over

That's a significant stepping stone to an electric future, though one that's still some way off. As Dr Weber suggests: "the age of electric mobility will not arrive at a push of a button, or on a specific date." That's why Mercedes' plans are a multi-faceted approach, the constant evolution of conventional engines, hybridisation and the introduction of battery power and fuel cell cars. These already exist, and drive much like their petrol and diesel counterparts, but infrastructure, cost and complexity issues mean that their implementation will not be immediate.

Building blocks for the future

What Weber does point out though is that: "the cornerstones for 'the day after tomorrow' are being laid out today." Given the breadth of technology that Mercedes demonstrates, and the pace at which it's introducing new solutions, there's little reason to doubt that, the company promising some interesting new models at the Frankfurt Show this September. Yahoo! Cars will be there to report exactly what these will be. Watch this space.

Kyle Fortune

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