Mercedes builds plug-in limo
If turning up to the boardroom in a Toyota Prius just won't do in your executive circle, how about this: the Mercedes S 500 Hybrid. Set to be unveiled in Frankfurt, the new S-Class luxury barge can run up to 19 miles on electric power alone before its 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine takes over.
As such, it posts some almost unbelievable fuel consumption and emissions stats, all the while boasting the same acceleration as we might expect from a top-end V8 petrol Merc. The S 500 Hybrid will get to 62mph in 5.5 seconds, but only emits 74g/km of CO2 and is capable of 88.3mpg. Don't forget how big and heavy the S-Class is while considering those figures.
As is often the case with a plug-in vehicle, Mercedes claims a rapid charging time for the lithium ion battery when connected to a special charging station (one hour from empty), but says it will take a rather more inconvenient 4.5 hours from a household socket. There are no plans for production yet, although Mercedes chief Dr. Dieter Zetsche claims the car is "a new milestone on our path toward zero-emission mobility."
The maker also continues to work on its E 300 BlueTEC diesel-hybrid, which links an electric motor to a 2.2-litre dour-cylinder diesel engine; diesel hybrid technology is seen as the logical next step in reducing emissions and consumption even further, but is expensive to produce. Peugeot is set to unveil a pair of diesel hybrids at Frankfurt.
Mercedes builds plug-in limo pictures
