Daimler to Introduce New Diesel and Natural Gas Hybrids at International Commercial Vehicles Show
20 August 2008
Among the more than 80 vehicles Daimler AG is bringing to the 2008 IAA International Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, Germany (25 September to 2 October 2008) are seven hybrid-drive trucks, vans and buses, as well as new natural gas variants.
Among the vehicles will be the new Mercedes-Benz Axor BlueTec Hybrid—its first truck for medium long-distance transport to be equipped with a hybrid drive. The Axor BlueTec Hybrid uses a parallel hybrid configuration expected to achieve fuel savings of around 6%. The prototype of the Axor BlueTec Hybrid will begin customer trials next year.
The Mercedes-Benz Atego BlueTec Hybrid is already undergoing customer trials. (Earlier post.)
Mercedes-Benz will also introduce a Vito van with hybrid drive. The fuel saving potential with the mild hybrid is around 2 liters/100 km. A Vito BlueEfficiency showcar also presents new technologies for conventional drives. A wide-spread six-speed transmission, streamlining package and additional measures enable vans to achieve fuel savings of 1.2-1.6 liters/100 km.
The Mercedes-Benz Econic will have two premieres at the show. One of the innovations is the already close-to-production Econic BlueTec Hybrid, featuring a parallel hybrid based on the 210 kW (286 hp) OM 906 LA diesel engine. Mercedes-Benz will also present a concept study in the form of the worldwide unique Econic NGT Hybrid, which combines an EEV-rated natural-gas-powered engine with an electric motor. The predicted reduction in fuel costs is up to 60% in comparison with a diesel drive.
Also premiering in Europe will be the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter Eco-D concept study, a parallel hybrid variant of a lightweight dump truck.
Take the Econic CNG hybrid and then use biomethane and you have atruly sustainable solution, with more miles per unit of waste (ie per unit of biomethane).
You cannot beat this.
Posted by: John Baldwin | 20 August 2008 at 08:15 AM
"A Vito BlueEfficiency showcar also presents new technologies for conventional drives. A wide-spread six-speed transmission, streamlining package and additional measures enable vans to achieve fuel savings of 1.2-1.6 liters/100 km."
These features and mild hybrid are low cost that have the most bang for the buck if applied to all cars. They should be required by CAFE etc.
Posted by: GdB | 20 August 2008 at 12:42 PM
Weight and volume for both a battery pack and a CNG tank will be issues for compact cars. Maybe the basic NG hybrid could be used for commuting and for interstate touring a fuel booster trailer could be towed. Perhaps include a luggage compartment in that trailer.
This means that a plug-in CNG hybrid will be connected to a gas compressor overnight as well as an electrical outlet. Inconvenient but it can beat expensive oil especially if biogas, syngas etc can extend the life of the natural gas network.
Posted by: Aussie | 20 August 2008 at 03:10 PM
Honda offers a CNG Civic with a home "Phil" device here in California. Seemed to me to be a good idea when it went on sale here a year or two back, but it hasn't been a big seller. Strange, since NG is available in most homes here and is not too expensive compared to gasoline.
Go figure?
http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-gx/
Posted by: terry | 25 August 2008 at 12:34 AM
areticle attached on NGV for damiler
Posted by: wdhyler | 04 September 2008 at 02:06 PM