Hybrid Cars, the Prototype of Modern Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off of its first hybrid car for passenger, the S400 Blue HYBRID. Based on the S350, this mild hybrid auto pairs an electric motor/generator and the first lithium-ion battery in a production car with a specially tuned version of the company’s 3.5L V6 driving the wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission.

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.

Current hybrid vehicles use nickel-metal hydride batteries, but the lithium-ion alternatives are known to offer greater efficiency, as well as a better overall weight-to-power ratio. The problem with integrating the Li-ion technology was in securing their stability—they became far too hot to be a viable option in a hybrid vehicle. Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz has 25 patents it is confident solves the dilemma of battery overheating, whether they stay on target for 2009 is another matter, but we certainly wouldn’t doubt them.

The assist from the electric motor gives the S400 an agile feel and more immediate throttle response, although it doesn’t feel as strong as our V-8-powered base S-class, the 382-hp S550. The kick from the electric motor is limited to only about 15 seconds because of the relatively small lithium-ion battery pack, and the electric motor only works up to 4000 rpm. But the boost is useful for low-speed acceleration and even in passing maneuvers. In all other driving situations, the S400 feels pretty much like a conventional S350.

Although the electric motor cannot power the S400 by itself, it does allow the gasoline engine to shut off when slowing to speeds below 9 mph, when coming to a stop, and when idling. When stopped, and with the gasoline engine asleep, the lithium-ion battery powers the accessories such as air conditioning as well as the electro-hydraulic steering. When the driver lifts his foot off the brake pedal, the gasoline engine whirs quickly to life without any hesitation or odd vibrations.

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.”

With the new S-Class, Daimler has become the first European automobile manufacturer to launch a vehicle with a hybrid engine and the innovative lithium-ion battery. The S 400 Blue HYBRID 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 Blue HYBRID the world’s most economical luxury sedan

What’s more important to consumers is that the battery pack is installed in the engine compartment, where it replaces the conventional starter battery. This means that the interior space and boot capacity of the S400 remain unchanged. Additionally, thanks to its compact dimensions and modular design, the additional weight of the overall hybrid system including the comprehensive safety systems is only 75 kg or 165 lbs.
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One thing that stops Americans from purchasing hybrid cars is the lack of options out there for them. For instance, some people just like to ride in certain models of cars, and when those models are absent from the market, people start to get upset. What the automotive industry needs to do is make sure that every consumer need is satisfied when it comes to hybrid cars. What should it do to satisfy every potential customer’s need? Just take a look at what people are buying. And hey, why isn’t there a hybrid pickup?

Half of the entire US vehicle market is based on sales of SUVs and pickups. That whole market is comprised of 16 million vehicles. And since pickup vehicles use tons of gas per year, it would be a great idea for pickup hybrids to flood the market. These types of hybrid cars would save pickup drivers tons of money on gas. The savings would make a great case for the hybrid car industry. Alone, those dollars saved would get people curious about hybrid cars. If people saw just how much money hybrid pickup drivers saved on gas, they might be led to rush and get a hybrid for themselves. The dollars saved would provide the perfect visual for potential hybrid car buyers.

But the question still is, why isn’t there a hybrid pickup truck. Hybrid car drivers all over are waiting to hear the answer to that question.
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It has been said that not enough people are doing all they can to fight against the energy crisis. Hybrid cars can help, but maybe not enough people are driving them. Here are a few issues related to the energy crisis and how hybrid cars can help.

The U.S. isn’t doing enough, really

The United States consumes the most fossil fuels in the world. However, most people believe that all of our energy problems can be solved if we would only look further into the oil deposits in Alaska or if we made full use of the recent oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico. Hybrid cars make it so that we might not have to use other sources of energy to keep the economy going. Hybrid cars don’t make Americans use an excess amount of fossil fuel. Instead, hybrid cars cause Americans to use less fossil fuel.

Energy consumers just swallow increasing gas prices

People used to care that gas prices are much higher than they were years ago. Now, people just accept the high prices. In the meantime, cars are getting bigger and bigger. Car manufacturers are making trucks and SUVs. These cars take in more gas, but you won’t believe how many people just won’t give up their dear old SUV. Hybrid cars end up costing people less to own than conventional cars do. So there’s no need to worry about just settling for being swindled by the oil economy.

Soon there could be a termination of the “cheap oil period”
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Would you believe me if I told you that Ferrari has unveiled a hybrid model?

A year ago, I would have laughed with you at the idea of a lean, cherry red, Italian supercar with a hybrid power unit.

The Ferrari 559 is a radical departure for the company, but not for the hybrid unit alone – the car came not with the signature red paint job, but appreciatively green!

Obviously, this is not last year it is 2010 and Ferrari is only one of a number of major car manufacturers announcing and unveiling hybrid models.

English car research and bespoke engineering company, Lotus has supplied a number of hybrid power unit “plug ins” for Malaysian car manufacturer, Proton.

Hybrids have been the domain of the Japanese for the last five years, but the American car giants have been catching up (especially with the Congressional strings attached to bail out funding and Presidential demands for cleaner and fuel efficient cars). Now the Europeans are getting in on the act, and several manufacturers will undoubtedly be taking a share in the US market.
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Everyone knows that it is unlikely that the future of the automotive industry relies on cars running on petrol or diesel. In fact, it is fair to assume that the coming few years or decade will probably spell the beginning of the end for all cars that depend purely on these environmentally unfriendly fuels. What we aren’t so good at predicting, however, is what will replace this technology. We know it will be something greener and more energy efficient (as our sources of fuel are fast running out on this poor planet), but as for more than that we simply can’t decide.

As such, car manufacturers all over the world are putting their eggs in very different baskets. Some cite solar power as a future possibility, whilst others predict that Fuel cells running on hydrogen will be the next big thing. Toyota, trying to predict what will be the next range of used Toyotas on the futuristic market, have decided that electric cars and hybrids are the way to go.

Hybrid technology is a reasonably safe bet at this moment in time, as the technology and future fuel networks (and nation filled with plugs for your cars!) already exist or can exist with minimal effort and less research. Whether this will last for year and years or be replaced as fast as it arrives simply waits to be seen, but Toyota are definitely on board the wagon and heading down the road fast.

On that note, welcome the Toyota drive system known as Hybrid Synergy Drive, which breaks us into the concept of electric cars gently and smoothly. We all worry that a single electric car battery won’t get us to our destination, and so until this technology is perfected and thoroughly tested it makes sense for us to opt for a car that has fuel and electricity so that we can definitely go the distance. Whilst the Prius, Toyotas flagship hybrid model, has been out for ages and is a staple at American used Toyota dealerships, a whole range featuring this technology in such a seamless integration is quite a revelation.

So, what benefits do Toyota claim to offer with their Hybrid Synergy Drive? Will it be coming to a range of Toyota models near you, or will they chicken out and only keep it with the Prius?

The range claims to offer high fuel and CO2 efficiencies, as you would expect from a car that doesn’t use petrol or diesel to power everything it does. This is done through making the most of start/stop technology and special engines designed for function and efficiency. Add to this a high energy battery (although not high energy enough to exist by itself), and you have a really economical system, saving us money and helping the environment. It also offers a quieter drive than normal thanks to the electric contribution, and this helps build on an excellent performance.
So, not only do Toyota promise, but they deliver in the bargain. This may turn out not to be the direct of modern driving, but it is as good a place to start as any.