Mercedes 2008 Annual Report Download - page 111

Sustainability |Innovation, Safety, and the Environment |107
– BlueEFFICIENCY. Optimized weight, aerodynamics, roll resis-
tance, energy management and drive systems reduce fuel con-
sumption by up to 12%.
– BLUETEC. The combination of inner-engine measures to reduce
emissions in addition to treatment of exhaust gases down-
stream from the engine makes diesel drive systems as clean as
gasoline engines, especially in terms of nitrogen oxides and
particulate matter.
– BLUE HYBRID. Gasoline hybrid technologies are another possi-
bility for reducing fuel consumption — for example, starting in
summer 2009 in the S 400 BlueHYBRID, the world’s most fuel-
efficient automobile in its class with a gasoline engine.
– BLUETEC HYBRID. Clean diesel hybrid technology currently
offers the most potential for fuel savings in the top segments.
– DIESOTTO. This new combustion engine concept in the F 700
research vehicle is as economical as a diesel and as clean as a
gasoline engine.
– Electric drive systems are quiet and efficient and produce no
local emissions. In trials in London, 100 smart fortwo ed cars
have been proving their worth since 2007.
– Fuel cells. With more than 100 test vehicles on the road (cars
and commercial vehicles), which have clocked up approximate-
ly 4.2 million kilometers to date, Daimler has the world’s
largest and most stringently tested fleet of fuel-cell vehicles. In
2009, we will begin production of a small series of the B-Class
F-CELL.
– Biofuels. Fuels such as SunDiesel (biomass-to-liquid, or BTL)
are opening up further potential for reducing fuel consumption
and emissions.
“Shaping Future Transportation.” In line with this claim, Daimler
aims to shape the future of mobility in the commercial-vehicle
segment by using resources sparingly and by reducing emissions
of every kind, while guaranteeing maximum traffic safety. We will
do all this with the help of our “CleanDrive Technologies” – effi-
cient, clean drive systems and alternative fuels for all vehicle
classes from lightweight vans to heavy-duty trucks, and for all
of our global Group brands. More than 225,000 Daimler commer-
cial vehicles with CleanDrive Technologies are already on the
road around the world. Our road map for CleanDrive Technologies
for Daimler Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans and Daimler Buses
consists of the following elements:
– Optimization of vehicles with combustion engines. An example
here is provided by BLUETEC technology, which enhances the
efficiency of modern diesel engines and further reduces harm-
ful emissions by a significant degree. The Mercedes-Benz
Actros, which consumes 19.44 liters of diesel per 100 kilome-
ters, is the most fuel-efficient 40-ton semitrailer tractor.
– Improving the efficiency of drive systems with hybrid concepts.
Daimler offers more commercial vehicles with hybrid drive
than any other manufacturer. Whether a city bus from Mitsubishi
Fuso or Orion, a walk-in van from Freightliner or a BLUETEC
hybrid truck from Mercedes-Benz, all of these vehicles have
already proven themselves in daily use. Daimler Buses is the
world’s market leader with approximately 1,700 Orion-brand
buses on the road in North America, and the new-generation
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is in customer trials in Germany and
the United States. The prioritized development of hybrid tech-
nologies is being pursued by our Daimler Trucks Global Hybrid
Center, which was opened in August 2008 at Mitsubishi Fuso
Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) in Kawasaki.
– Zero-emission driving with fuel cells. Our range of fuel-cell test
vehicles includes numerous commercial vehicles such as the
Sprinter van and the Citaro bus.
– Alternative fuels for internal combustion engines. Take natural
gas, for example: Natural-gas drive systems such as those
of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter NGT or the Citaro city bus are
clean and quiet.
Safety Bus: The new Mercedes-Benz Travego with Active Brake Assist and Front Collision Guard.