Mercedes first to lithium hybrids?

Coming to America in late 2009?

In the third quarter of 2009, Mercedes-Benz is planning to begin selling the lithium-powered Mercedes S400 hybrid vehicle. The 3.5 liter V6 gasoline electric hybrid should achieve almost 30 mpg, and it could be the first mass-produced lithium-powered hybrid.

Sometime thereafter, Mercedes will also launch a lithium powered diesel hybrid, the S300 Bluetec hybrid, a 2.2 liter twin-turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel hybrid that is expected to achieve more than 43 mpg.

According to AutoWeek, Mercedes-Benz has will control the thermodynamics of lithium "by integrating the lithium-ion batteries directly into the cooling system of the car to allow them to operate at an optimum temperature of between 59 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Mercedes says it has been working on the underlying technology since 1992, creating 25 patents in the process.

"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," says Thomas Weber, head of Mercedes-Benz research and development."

Mercedes - the future king of hybrid cars?