Mercedes-Benz to be First in Utilizing Lithium-Ion in Series-Production

Mercedes-Benz is claiming they will have lithium-ion batteries in its upcoming S400 BlueHybrid that will go on sale in Europe by mid-2009, following to the U.S. by the third-quarter of 2009.

If Mercedes-Benz can keep to schedule, the S400 BlueHybrid gasoline-electric will be the first series-production car to rely on lithium-ion technology.

“What we have here is a groundbreaking key technology that is going to be a decisive factor for the future success of the automotive industry,” said Thomas Weber, head of Mercedes-Benz research and development.

(More details and press release after the jump)

The S400 BlueHybrid is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine paired with a small electric motor. The car can deliver 299 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, can do the 0-62 mph sprint in 7.3 seconds, and MB estimates it will achieve 29.7 mpg.

After the S400, Mercedes-Benz will release its second lithium-ion battery packed hybrid, the S300 BlueTec Hybrid. The S300 will feature the 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine paired with the hybrid motor. MB says the powertrain will push 221 horsepower, 413 pound-feet of torque, and achieve a remarkable 43.6 mpg.

The lithium-ion battery pack will be supplied by Johnson Controls-Saft – which, recently, built a plant in Nersac, France to produce li-ion batteries for Mercedes.

Breakthrough in Battery Technology by Daimler

· First patented integration of a lithium-ion battery into a series-produced passenger car

· Available in Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID starting in 2009

· 25 patents for top technology “made in Germany”

Stuttgart - Daimler AG has achieved a crucial breakthrough in battery technology. The Stuttgart-based automaker is the world’s first manufacturer to have succeeded in adapting lithium-ion technology to the demanding requirements of automotive applications. Until now, the technology has been used primarily in consumer electronics. The new battery will be used in the series-production S 400 BlueHYBRID beginning next year. This important technology was possible thanks to 25 patents held by Daimler.

Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler AG Board of Management and responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, says: “What we have here is a groundbreaking key technology that is going to be a decisive factor for the future success of the automotive industry. That is a tribute to our intensive research efforts, which we have been conducting in this area since 1992.”

The engineers’ success is above all a result of the Daimler-developed integration of the lithium-ion battery into the vehicle’s climate control system. This ensures that the battery always works at optimal system temperatures of between 15 and 35°C, which in turn makes it possible for the battery to provide long service life and maximum performance.

The main advantages offered by the newly developed lithium-ion battery are its very compact dimensions and its far superior performance compared to conventional nickel-metal hydride batteries. The weight/power ratio of the entire battery is 1,900 watts per liter (W/L). What’s more, the battery stands out by virtue of its high ampere-hour efficiency, long service life, and great reliability, even at very low temperatures. Its high level of safety is the equal of that provided by today’s auto batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are ideally suited for use in hybrid vehicles to help reducing fuel consumption and thus also CO2 emissions. At the same time, the Daimler engineers are investigating to what degree this technology can be applied to other vehicle concepts, such as electric and fuel cell-powered cars.

S 400 BlueHYBRID — the world’s most economical luxury sedan

The S 400 BlueHYBRID consumes only 7.9 liters of gasoline per 100 km in the NEDC. This results in very low CO2 emissions of only 190 grams per kilometer, a very low value for this vehicle class and power class, making the S 400 BlueHYBRID the world’s most economical luxury sedan — unrivaled by any gasoline, diesel, or hybrid drive system offered by any competitor. And S 400 BlueHYBRID drivers will still enjoy impressive performance: combined with the hybrid module, the maximum output is 220 kW/299 hp, and the corresponding maximum torque is 375 Nm. The S 400 BlueHYBRID accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

Even more potential is offered by the combination of clean BlueTec diesel technology with a hybrid module, a duo that is featured in the S 300 BlueTec HYBRID, for example.

About Daimler

Daimler AG, Stuttgart, with its businesses Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks, Daimler Financial Services, Mercedes-Benz Vans, and Daimler Buses, is a globally leading producer of premium passenger cars and the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles. The Daimler Financial Services division offers a broad range of financial services, including vehicle financing, leasing, insurance, and fleet management. Daimler sells its products in nearly all the countries of the world and has production facilities on five continents. The company’s founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, continued to make automotive history following their invention of the automobile in 1886. As an automotive pioneer, Daimler AG willingly accepts its obligation to act responsibly toward society and the environment and to shape the future of safe and sustainable mobility with groundbreaking technologies and high-quality products. The current brand portfolio includes the world’s most valuable automobile brand, Mercedes-Benz, as well as smart, Maybach, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Mitsubishi Fuso, Setra, Orion, and Thomas Built Buses. The company is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt, New York, and Stuttgart (stock exchange abbreviation DAI). In 2007 the Group sold 2.1 million vehicles and employed a workforce of over 270,000 people. Revenues totaled €99.4 billion and EBIT amounted to €8.7 billion. Daimler is an automotive group with a commitment to excellence, which aims to achieve sustainable growth and industry-leading profitability.

+ Automotive News: Mercedes-Benz to use lithium-ion batteries in hybrid