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2010 Mercedes Benz S400 Hybrid

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by sdtundra, Sep 22, 2008.

  1. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

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    2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid First Drive on Inside Line

    Mercedes-Benz has developed an electronically controlled cooling process integrated into the air-conditioning system that keeps the S400 BlueHybrid's battery cells operating at an optimal temperature of between 59 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Altogether, the battery and cooling system uses 25 unique patents. Vollrath claims the batteries will be good for up to 600,000 cycles, or a life of over 10 years.

    Where it really begins to makes sense, though, is at the gas station. With combined fuel consumption on the European cycle of 29.8 mpg, the S400 BlueHybrid betters the S350 by 7 mpg — enough to provide a 165-mile boost in cruising range from its large 23.8-gallon tank to 708 miles.
     
    #1 sdtundra, Sep 22, 2008
  2. wchardin

    wchardin Senior Member

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    #2 wchardin, Sep 22, 2008
  3. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Come on! Honda Civic hybrid has 20 hp electric motor too. This is nothing new. Accord hybrid had V6 and 20 hp electric motor as well.
     
    #3 usbseawolf2000, Sep 22, 2008
  4. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    #4 DaveinOlyWA, Sep 26, 2008
  5. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    19 kW from the 55 lbs pack that would last 100,000 - 150,000 miles.

    The NiMH pack in Prius is 21 kW from 99 lbs pack has warranty between 100k - 150k miles but proven to last much longer (300k+).

    Lithium is about twice more expensive than NiMH. No wonder Toyota is sticking with NiMH for the next gen Prius.
     
    #5 usbseawolf2000, Sep 26, 2008
  6. Cyrix2k

    Cyrix2k BMW V8 baby

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    Uh, that's kind of crappy for what it is. It's a V6 hybrid and can only muster 30mpg average? I can do 24 mpg average with a 282hp V8 keeping up with traffic, not driving crazy slow and close to 30 mpg highway. However, in response to the above post, Li-ion is the superior battery technology even if it is more expensive.
     
    #6 Cyrix2k, Nov 24, 2008
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Keep in mind the weigh of an S-Class. They're not known to be featherweights.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Nov 24, 2008
  8. JSH

    JSH Senior Member

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    Very true. The US spec S550 weighs 4465 lb and gets 14 mpg city / 22 mpg highway.
     
    #8 JSH, Nov 24, 2008
  9. narf

    narf Active Member

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    The cost per kwh is still a problem, plus they still have a tendency to burst into flames. It's one thing when your laptop melt down with a 6 cell battery in it, it's quite another when your rear seat flames out.
     
    #9 narf, Nov 24, 2008
  10. finman

    finman Senior Member

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    'tis not true!! see the A123.com battery video. Sorry, I'm letting google be your friend here. No direct link ...but the flameage from SOME lithium batteries is Soooo not an issue anymore.
     
    #10 finman, Nov 25, 2008
  11. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i think that Li-Ion has gotten a bad rep due to a infamously large batch of defective batteries and several utube videos.

    i have dealt with Li-ions for years and have never had an issue. i can remember when they first came out, especially in laptops, they would get so hot, you could not have them in your lap if you had shorts on, they would literally give you first degree burns. but that was also in laptops where all the heat control was on the processor and the battery was ignored.

    i feel that basic steps to monitor the pack, heat control along with changes to the chemistry, will go a long way towards eliminating most of the "explosive" issues
     
    #11 DaveinOlyWA, Nov 25, 2008
  12. Cyrix2k

    Cyrix2k BMW V8 baby

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    li-ion batteries are very safe. Don't let the sony disaster play mind games... anything that is defective can be dangerous. If you had defective wrist pins in your engine and a bunch went boom, would you then think all engines have a tendency to have holes blown through the side of them? There are quite a few fail safes built into li-ion cells, not to mention manufactured packs.
     
    #12 Cyrix2k, Nov 25, 2008
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