Mercedes 2003 Annual Report Download - page 74
Download and view the complete annual report
Please find page 74 of the 2003 Mercedes annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.Hybrid technology as a step toward fuelcell systems. Of the
various alternative drive systems, we believe that fuel cells clearly
offer the best long-term potential. They are twice as efficient as
gasoline engines, make little noise and have no harmful emissions.
We are working very hard on developing a fuelcell drive system,
and have already invested about €1 billion in this technology.
Hydrogen is the system’s renewable source of energy. The success
of this technology therefore depends on sufficient renewable
hydrogen fuel being available. Construction has begun in Berlin of
the world’s first fully integrated public hydrogen filling station.
Starting at the end of 2004, DaimlerChrysler and the other eight
partner companies in the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) will use
this filling station to supply a fleet of 16 vehicles with hydrogen
fuel. Ten of these vehicles are F-cell versions of the Mercedes-Benz
A-Class car. By the end of 2004, DaimlerChrysler will be the first
automaker in the world to have handed over more than 100 fuelcell
drive vehicles to customers for practical testing. Among these
vehicles are 30 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses that are being tested
in ten major European cities. The fuelcell bus Citaro won the
“Environmental Leadership Award” of DaimlerChrysler in the
category product related environmental protection (see page 73).
Alternative Drive Systems and Fuels
Ensuring sustainable mobility. DaimlerChrysler has a long-term
strategy to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Optimization
of fuel and drive-system interaction can play a crucial role in
ensuring sustainable mobility for future generations. “Energy for
the future” is therefore one of DaimlerChrysler’s key areas of
research.
In addition to developing alternative fuels and drive systems, the
Group’s researchers and development engineers are working on
enhancing conventional combustion engines, as these well-proven
drive systems still have great potential. Since 1990, Daimler-
Chrysler has reduced the average fuel consumption of its
passenger cars in Germany by 27%. This already exceeds the target
of 25% between 1990 and 2005 set by the German Automobile
Industry Association (VDA). This is clear evidence that we have
significantly increased the efficiency of conventional combustion
engines.
Research focus on future sources of energy |More than 100 fuelcell vehicles to be tested in normal
use by the end of 2004 |High-performance hybrid drive in research vehicle Mercedes-Benz F 500 Mind |
Advanced CO2-neutral diesel fuel in use
Cross-divisional Functions | Sustainability | Research and Technology | Alternative Drive Systems and Fuels | Environment | Global Procurement and Supply | Social Responsibility | Human Resources