Mercedes 2004 Annual Report Download - page 80

Environmental protection as a corporate goal. DaimlerChrysler
is committed to fully integrated environmental protection. In other
words, we aim to set the pace not only in the areas of innovation
and safety, but also with leading-edge technology to protect the
environment. Our commitment to this position is demonstrated
by our expenditures for environmental protection, which totaled
to approximately €1.6 billion in 2004.
We aim to safeguard individual mobility in a sustainable manner
by using natural resources sparingly and further reducing our
products’ fuel consumption and emissions. In order to pursue
these goals sustainably, we have combined our activities in a
five-stage initiative called “Energy for the future” (see page 74).
Mercedes-Benz has 20 passenger-car models that are equipped
with diesel particulate filters and comply with the Euro 4 emission
limits – more than any other German automaker. In the C, E
and S-Class segments, more than 80% of our German customers
already order their diesel-engined cars with particulate filters.
Unlike other similar exhaust-treatment techniques, the Mercedes-
Benz system operates without any additives and therefore
requires no maintenance.
Hydrogen in the fuel tank: fuel-cell vehicles. DaimlerChrysler
has handed over more than 100 fuel-cell vehicles to customers all
over the world: more than any other automaker. A total of 33
Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses are currently being tested in every-
day use by regional public-transport authorities in Europe and
Australia. In 2005, three additional fuel-cell buses will go into
operation in Beijing. Meanwhile, Sprinter vans with fuel-cell
drive are delivering packages in the United States, and Mercedes
A-Class cars with fuel-cell drive are being tested in everyday
use in Berlin, Japan, Singapore and the US.
The Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) is an initiative launched by
partners in the automotive and oil industries as well as energy
suppliers, with the goal of establishing new energy infrastructures
for innovative drive systems and vehicle concepts. In November
2004, CEP opened the world’s largest hydrogen filling station in
Berlin. With our ten fuel-cell vehicles, we are the largest mobility
partner in the Clean Energy Partnership.
In 2004, DaimlerChrysler Corporate Research produced a fuel
cell with cold-start capability, thereby setting a milestone on
the road towards market maturity. This fuel cell can be started
at temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. The key
advantage of this fuel cell is its exact management of water and
heat so that the fuel cell does not freeze. In addition to its
ability to start even at temperatures far below freezing point, this
innovative fuel cell also delivers enough energy within seconds
to cover all the power requirements imposed by normal driving
conditions. Its starting performance is therefore comparable to
that of diesel engines.
Biodiesel from the jatropha plant. DaimlerChrysler aims to
promote systematically the development, testing and market
launch of renewable fuels. “SunDiesel” (see page 75) is particularly
suitable for countries that possess enough readily accessible
high-quality agricultural and forestry land that is not needed for
food production.
€1.6 billion spent on environmental protection |Over 100 fuel-cell vehicles in use with
customers worldwide |DaimlerChrysler commercial vehicles using BlueTec diesel
technology already comply with Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards |Biodiesel being tested
as an alternative fuel
DaimlerChrysler and the Environment
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