Filed under: Hybrid, Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Benz will be launching its first hybrid, the S400 BlueHybrid next spring and Phil Floraday from Automobile got a chance to sample it on a recent trip to Europe. The S400 is a mild hybrid, and in many respects it’s more similar to the Honda IMA system than Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy drive. The S400 will be the first mass-produced hybrid with a lithium ion battery pack. As Phil explains, the system provides start/stop capability, and some electric boost. However, the main purpose is to drive vehicle electrical systems off the lithium battery, reducing the parasitic loads on the engine. The battery itself gets most of its charging from regenerative braking that provides 75 percent of the braking capability in most urban driving.

[Source: Automobile]

Automobile gets first drive in the Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: toyota, honda, mercedes

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By - Hybrid Guy
Bio: My fascination for hybrid cars came about long ago. I've been living green before gas hit $1/gallon. It's really a way of life and I hope I can share with you all I know about Hybrid Cars.
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