Mercedes 2001 Annual Report Download - page 50

46 DaimlerChrysler and the Environment
Efficient use of resources — the key to sustainable
mobility. In view of the sharply increasing demand for
energy – particularly in developing countries and the
emerging markets – as well as continuing climatic
changes due to the use of fossil fuels, the importance of
environment-friendly energy sources is growing signifi-
cantly. If we want to safeguard mobility over the long
term, we will have to continuously lower fuel consump-
tion while at the same time reducing our dependence
on fossil fuels. In order to achieve these goals and
strengthen its competitive position over the long run,
DaimlerChrysler is investing substantially in new tech-
nologies such as hybrid drive systems and fuel cells.
The use of fuel-cell technology leads to signifi-
cantly greater fuel economy, as vehicles with fuel-cell
drive have much higher internal efficiency ratings (the
standard measurement for efficiency of energy conver-
sion) than do conventional internal-combustion en-
gines. Currently, fuel cells that operate with hydrogen
are 50% more efficient than optimized diesel engines.
Our overall goal is to further increase fuel-cell
efficiency once again by more than 10% in the next
phase of development.
Fuel-cell technology in practical tests. DaimlerChrysler
continued its development of fuel cells in 2001,
focusing particularly on field tests of fuel-cell driven
vehicles.
An important milestone on the road toward the
first marketable fuel-cell vehicle was the delivery of the
first fuel-cell van – a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – to the
Hermes Versand Service parcel delivery company. The
vehicle is equipped with an asynchronous electric
motor in the front and pressurized-hydrogen tanks
beneath the floor. This concept does not restrict cargo
space in any way. It does, however, offer great driver
comfort and allows for quiet, high-torque acceleration.
And, as is typical of fuel- cell systems, it also ensures
zero emissions of CO, NOx and particulates.
Focus on sustainable and environment
friendly mobility
■Lower fuel consumption with hybrid and fuel-cell technology
■Further development of new renewable fuels
■Awards received for exemplary environmental reporting
Agreements were reached with ten major Euro-
pean cities to test Mercedes-Benz municipal buses
equipped with fuel cells. The first such vehicles will be
built at the end of 2002; plans call for the delivery of a
total of 30 Citaro city buses throughout Europe by the
end of 2003. DaimlerChrysler is therefore the first
automobile manufacturer to sell fuel-cell vehicles to its
customers.
Pilot projects have also been agreed for passenger
cars. In the US, DaimlerChrysler plans to provide 15
vehicles for the California Fuel Cell Partnership project,
which aims to demonstrate the suitability of fuel-cell
vehicles for practical applications. At the beginning of
2001, the world’s first methanol-powered fuel-cell-
vehicle equipped with technology suitable for everyday
use was tested on public roads in Japan. The vehicle
was the NECAR 5 which is based on the Mercedes-Benz
A-Class.
First production vehicle with hybrid technology in the
near future. Hybrid technology complements long-term
fuel-cell development when it comes to the potential
for boosting fuel economy in the near term.
DaimlerChrysler is therefore accelerating development
of a marketable hybrid drive technology and plans to
produce various hybrid vehicles, such as the Dodge
Durango and the “RAM Contractor Special.” The hybrid
vehicles under development at DaimlerChrysler
improve fuel economy by more than 25% compared to
similar vehicles with conventional drive systems.