S 400 BLUETEC HYBRID

BLUETEC HYBRID: Combining comfort and luxury with fuel economy

The combination of an extremely clean diesel engine and a battery-powered electric motor – the E 300 and S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID models will be equipped with such a package beginning in 2009 – is likely to prove very attractive. The vehicles’ hybrid concept also includes a brake energy recovery system, whereby the electric motor acts as a generator when the vehicle is rolling or braking. The resulting energy is used to charge a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, which in turn stores the energy for later use by the motor. In this manner, the system recycles up to ten percent of the energy used, giving the two large Mercedes-Benz luxury sedans the type of fuel efficiency previously only associated with small cars.