Just when we thought we had heard every environmentally conscious term imaginable, Thomas Weber, head of research and development for Mercedes-Benz, threw out a new one. He called the new Mercedes-Benz GLK Bluetec Hybrid a âsustainable utility vehicle.â Catchy, huh?
He was referring to this GLK's diesel-electric drivetrain, which combines a 2.2-liter diesel engine with what Mercedes described vaguely as a âhybrid module.â It delivers 38.8 mpg according to Mercedes-Benz, but more importantly, the hybrid module uses lithium-ion batteries. Mercedes says a similar system will make its production debut in the S400 Blue Hybird next year. If that goes as planned, the Mercedes-Benz S400 Blue Hybrid would be the first production hybrid car to use lithium-ion battery technology. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor , Inside Line
ateixeira says:
08:46 AM, 03/ 4/08
Who wants to bet when the first recall for overheating batteries will be?
My money's on the first month.
proxima says:
10:52 AM, 03/ 4/08
It won't overheat. MB revealed the've tied the battery cooling system into the overall heating/cooling system to keep it in the optimal operating range. These batteries do get hot, however in the normal electronic/laptop use, they are only cooled by fans and are constrained by weight and sound issues.
It irritates me that the Germans and Japanese are the main innovators on new technology whether it's advanced diesel or hybrids. American car companies are just tinkering around the edges, with the environmentalists in this country thinking that we can tax our way to reduced energy useage. America needs to wake up and be the same country that put a man on the moon.
daytona_500 says:
11:44 AM, 03/ 4/08
Haha, well at least they're not calling it the Freeside anymore.
automaton says:
01:09 PM, 03/ 4/08
Oh, look, it is the Mercedes Forester!
(What, after the Chrysler debacle did they decide to partner with Subaru?)
calmb4thestrm says:
01:36 PM, 03/ 4/08
OH MY! another automaker trying to beat the puris! it's a shame really.
estreka says:
03:39 PM, 03/ 4/08
My god it's ugly. The proportions are just wrong. The Forester doesn't look that bad...
I'm betting there'll be batteries issues, too.
hondacura4 says:
04:29 PM, 03/ 7/08
A Forester and a C300 had "relations" and this was the result.