Mercedes 2015 Annual Report Download - page 107

114 B | COMBINED MANAGEMENT REPORT | SUSTAINABILITY
CO2 air conditioners in production cars as of 2017
In 2017, S-Class and E-Class models in Europe will become the
first production cars in the world to be equipped with CO2 air
conditioning systems. By making this move, Mercedes-Benz
will go beyond the climate protection requirements of the EU.
Because of their ability to produce a large amount of cold air
very quickly, CO2 air conditioners can create a comfortable
interior atmosphere in a short time, even when it is very hot
outside. The units are also very environmentally friendly,
which makes them the ideal sustainable premium solution
among climate control systems.
The use of CO2 as a refrigerant requires the redevelopment of
key components. CO2 air conditioners operate at a pressure
of over 100 bar, which is around ten times the operating pressure
of previously used systems. For this reason, all the compo-
nents, as well as hoses and seals and gaskets, will have to be
newly developed. To this end, Mercedes-Benz has worked
with all other German automakers and numerous supplier com-
panies on the creation of new standards in the automotive
standards committee of the German Association of the Auto-
motive Industry (VDA). These new DIN specifications, which
can be viewed by the public, will also offer other companies
the chance to launch short-term development activities in
this area. Mercedes-Benz has taken on a pioneering role here
and has become the first automaker to commission not
only development work on CO2 air conditioning systems and
their components but also production orders.
Despite the extraordinarily short time available to develop CO2
air conditioning systems for its top models, Mercedes-Benz
will be able to achieve the high level of quality it is striving to
attain. However, it will not be possible to equip the brand’s
entire fleet with such systems by the cut-off date for the new
EU directive of January 1, 2017. So in order to ensure that all
other model series comply with the EU regulations on time, we
have developed safe solutions for using the R1234yf synthetic
refrigerant. As is generally well known, this refrigerant has a
different ignition potential than the R134a refrigerant previ-
ously used in the automotive industry. In order to continue to
offer our customers the same high degree of safety in the
future, we have developed a comprehensive package of vehi-
cle-specific measures that will ensure typical Mercedes-Benz
safety in those models in which R1234yf is used. These mea-
sures, which will be implemented as needed, include a
special protection component system for various vehicle con-
figurations. In the event of a frontal collision, this system,
which has since been patented, ensures that the refrigerant
and air mixture remains separate from the hot components
in the engine compartment and that the latter are also very
effectively cooled. This is made possible by the use of a gas
generator that sprays the protective gas argon onto the hot
surfaces, thus protecting against fire.
The safety requirements of customers and the high safety
standards at Mercedes-Benz will thus continue to be met in
the future. The system also enables the Group to make a
further contribution to climate protection.
Innovative SuperTruck
We are continually working on further increasing efficiency in
road freight transport also in the United States. In March,
for example, Daimler Trucks North America presented its Super-
Truck concept vehicle at the Mid America Trucking Show 2015.
Thanks to its pioneering technology, the SuperTruck program
operated by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has
achieved transport efficiency improvements of 115% (measured
in ton-miles per gallon). As a result, DTNA far exceeded the
efficiency improvement target of 50% set by the US Department
of Energy (DOE). Indeed, Daimler Trucks North America
exceeded all expectations in the DOE program and achieved
the best result of all four participating truck manufacturers.
In honor of its outstanding performance, Daimler was presented
with the Department of Energy’s “Distinguished Achievement
Award.” Some of the solutions developed within the framework
of the SuperTruck program are already being used as standard
components in Freightliner and Detroit products. The combina-
tion of proven and forward-looking technologies that DTNA
utilized in the DOE project allowed the truck manufacturer to
highlight solutions that are technically possible. One of the
most important initiatives was the optimal alignment of the
tractor and semitrailer, which DTNA developed as a unified
system for the first time in the project. Individual energy-efficient
tires with low rolling resistance, as well as sophisticated
aerodynamic features for the trailer, also made a major contri-
bution to the increase in efficiency achieved.
Compliance with legal emission-measurement stipulations
After reports surfaced or manipulation by a competitor in the
fulfillment of emission regulations, doubts began to arise
concerning the emission and fuel consumption figures reported
by other automakers. Daimler repudiates any allegations of
manipulation. In particular, Daimler does not use and has never
used any so-called “defeat device” that illegally restricts the
effectiveness of emission control systems. This applies to all
of our diesel and gasoline engines. Our engines comply with
all applicable laws and regulations. We also preclude any irreg-
ularities when measuring the CO2 emissions of our vehicles.
Furthermore, we draw attention to the fact, that several envi-
ronmental authorities in Europe and in the USA have made
requests for test results. Some requests were answered without
any findings whereas other discussions still continue.
In addition, we actively support the efforts being undertaken in
Germany and on the European level to introduce new testing
procedures that measure emissions during actual driving oper-
ations (Real Driving Emissions – RDE).
The fuel-consumption data provided by manufacturers is based
on the legally stipulated NEDC test cycle, which is conducted
in a laboratory. However, because conditions in real driving sit-
uations generally differ from those in such labs, actual fuel
consumption values can deviate from reported values. Daimler
strongly supports the introduction of the WLTP (Worldwide
Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure) as a replacement
for the NEDC that would ensure only minor deviations between
actual and reported fuel consumption figures.