Mercedes-Benz unveils S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID
21 August 2013
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S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID. Click to enlarge. |
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the third hybrid model of the new S-Class, the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID, prior to its introduction in a few weeks at the Frankfurt Motor Show. (Earlier post.) Market launch for the plug-in will be next year.
The S 500 PLUG-IN combines an 80 kW, 340 N·m electric motor, externally rechargeable battery, and a new 245 kW, 480 N·m 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine. Fuel consumption is 3 l/100 km (78 mpgUS), with about 30 km (18.6 miles) of all-electric range possible. CO2 emissions are 69 g/km. Top speed is 250 km/h (155 mph), with 0-100 km/h acceleration in 5.5 sec.
The S 400 HYBRID was the first to feature a standard-specification hybrid drive system with lithium-ion battery in 2009. With the new S-Class, Mercedes-Benz expands the hybrid line-up in this model series to three models: the S 400 HYBRID, S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID. All second-generation hybrid drive systems share the same integration into the powertrain. The combustion engine can be completely decoupled from the electric motor. Further features are the second-generation recuperative braking system and the anticipatory Intelligent HYBRID energy management system.
While the batteries of the S 400 HYBRID and S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID as autonomous hybrids are charged during braking or coasting or by the combustion engine, the new high-voltage lithium-ion battery of the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID has ten times the energy content and offers the option of being recharged from an external source with a charging socket located on the right side of the rear bumper.
Four hybrid operating modes can be selected at the push of a button:
- HYBRID
- E-MODE: electric power only
- E-SAVE: fully charged battery is reserved to be able to drive on electric power alone later
- CHARGE: battery is charged while driving
A haptic accelerator pedal enables superior vehicle control; a point of resistance on the accelerator pedal provides feedback about the activation of the combustion engine and helps in metering the power output.
The second-generation S-Class hybrids feature an anticipatory energy management system and thereby improve energy efficiency. The operating strategy of the hybrid drive system not only accounts for the current driving condition and driver input, but also adjusts to the likely route (inclines, downhill stretches, bends or speed limits) for the next eight kilometers.
Intelligent HYBRID uses the navigation data from COMAND Online to manage the charging and discharging of the high-voltage battery. The goal is, for example, to use the energy content of the battery for propulsion ahead of a downhill stretch in order to recharge it while going downhill using recuperation.
The largest potential for lowering the energy consumption of hybrid drive systems lies in maximizing energy recovery during coasting and braking. Upon depressing the brake pedal the deceleration is initially effected by the electric motor and not by the disc brakes. The new S-Class is the first to use a recuperative braking system (RBS) of the second generation. It ensures an unnoticeable overlapping of the conventional mechanical brakes and the electric braking performance of the electric motor in alternator mode.
The driver’s desired braking power is recorded by a pedal-travel sensor. The deceleration is dependent on the driving condition and is split into a recuperative brake-force portion and a portion to be supplied by the wheel brakes. The brake pressure on the rear axle is controlled by the RBS dependent on the current recuperation potential of the powertrain.
In addition, the combustion engine is switched off any time the vehicle is coasting and its drag torque when rolling is used by the electric motor as recuperation torque. However, without depressing the brake pedal no additional deceleration torque is provided for charging the battery and the vehicle can “sail”. The combustion engine is to be used for charging the battery as little as possible and only at suitable and most efficient operating points.
It's a heck of a lot of money for a car which is not purpose built to take the batteries.
The end result is that it has a really nasty intrusion into the boot, just like the Ford's:
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/20/mercedes-s500-plug-in-hybrid-official/
Personally even if I had the money I would not spend it on something which is basically a kludge.
BMW and Audi are engineering from the bottom up.
Mercedes are bolting on the battery.
Posted by: Davemart | 21 August 2013 at 04:38 AM
For these huge luxury cars, giant powerful engines are required to give 'adequate' acceleration. Usually enough to yield an unrestrained top speed of 300+ km/h.
This car has an ICE strong enough to 'cruise' at its restrained top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), and an electric motor to boost acceleration.
Of course this mechanism is nothing new to the readers of this site. Still, it is interesting to see the effect of such down-sizing in this segment.
Posted by: Thomas Pedersen | 21 August 2013 at 08:33 AM
It is pretty cool though - a Merc S500 that gets 3L / 100km.
Those cars are for displaying wealth and technology, and you may as well display it through economy as well as performance as through performance only.
It is more challenging for the environment, and any useful innovations can trickle down to mass market cars in a few years. (or in the case of Merc - the C and E classes (!) ).
If the battery takes up too much of the boot (trunk), they should use a smaller battery.
I imagine they set the battery size so they could achieve 3L/100km which is a goal for the greens (although they did not envisage a car such as this achieving it).
So, if you are prepared to let the efficiency drop a bit, you could get most of your boot back.
I would be interested to see what kind of mileage people actually get out if it, after say a year's use (count the gallons of fuel used).
Posted by: mahonj | 21 August 2013 at 02:59 PM
I mean to say "it is challenging for the engineers and good for the environment ".
Posted by: mahonj | 21 August 2013 at 03:00 PM