Everything hybrid cars. The hybrid cars blog presents news and information covering all hybrid cars, trucks, and suvs and other experimental hybrid vehicles, including the Toyota Prius hybrid car, Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV, Toyota Camry hybrid car, Honda Accord hybrid car, Honda Civic hybrid car, Ford Escape hybrid SUV, Mercury Mariner hybrid SUV and more, plus testimonials from the drivers of hybrid cars regarding hybrid fuel efficiency and the performance of their hybrid vehicles in general. Come daily for fresh news on hybrid cars.

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

The New Mercedes S400 hybrid

Mercedes using the S400 hybrid as a step towards electrification.Luxury and 29 mpg

Mercedes will begin selling the S400 hybrid this August according to Mercedes.

"The S400 Hybrid is a major milestone on our road toward emission-free mobility," says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars .... In this way the S-Class and the Mercedes-Benz brand are doing important pioneering work for the electrification of the automobile."

Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, mercedes s400 hybrid

posted by Dahcredyns at 7:16 AM 1 Comments

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Mercedes S400 hybrid built specifically for PR

Mercedes hybrid vehicles simply PR tools?Is Dieter Zetsche stupid?

Luxury hybrid vehicles don't resonate well with me. Fuel efficient luxury vehicles might help develop technology, but they are going to have little effect on global warming or foreign oil dependency. Still, for the technology development, I do at least partially advocate for these hybrids.

So, with interest, I read MotorTrend's review of the S400 hybrid and then I read this:

Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche told me a few weeks back that the car's fate had changed with high gas prices. "At first I thought it was just a marketing tool, just so we could say we had a hybrid. Now it's hard to tell." Interest has been high. "But I'm not sure I want to sell too many, given the cost of it to us."

Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, mercedes s400 hybrid

posted by Dahcredyns at 11:24 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

BMW joins the lithium mild hybrid game

The BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid

BMW will debut the new 7 Series ActiveHybrid at the Paris Auto Show next week, a vehicle that was developed out of a joint venture with Mercedes Benz and the S400 hybrid. However, while much of the hybrid technology is the same, the gasoline engines and gearboxes are quite different according to Edmunds.

Yes, this is another luxury hybrid that most of us will never consider purchasing, but it is also another example of the growing interest in lithium-powered mild hybrid powertrains. And, soon, such lithium powertrains will make their way into much cheaper hybrid vehicles. Is that not progress?

Labels: BMW Series 7 ActiveHybrid, Hybrid Vehicles, mercedes s400 hybrid

posted by Dahcredyns at 8:35 AM 17 Comments

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Mercedes S400: Mild hybrids are worthy?

Coming to America next September

Slowly, but surely, most automakers are rolling out hybrid vehicles. One of the first from Mercedes, the S400 hybrid, is a lithium-powered mild hybrid. This hybrid cannot function on electric power at low speeds, however, it will increase average fuel economy from 23 mpg to just under 30 - almost a 7 mpg improvement.

In late 2010, GM plans to add lithium to their mild hybrid BAS system as well, and 20 to 30 percent improvements in fuel economy are expected.

Would a full hybrid powertrain with lithium provide even greater fuel economy? Yes, but at higher costs. Still, lithium-powered mild hybrids can provide nice increases in fuel economy at justifiable costs. Hence, are mild hybrids now worthy?

Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, mercedes s400 hybrid

posted by Dahcredyns at 2:00 PM 7 Comments

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Mercedes: The Prius doesn't make sense

The future of hybrid cars?

According to a report in LeftLaneNews, one of Mercedes' top vehicle researchers claimed that the Toyota Prius doesn't make sense for manufacturers, as LeftLane itself assumed stating that Toyota "is known to have absorbed enormous losses to keep its Prius Hybrid at the forefront of the green revolution".

According to Toyota, money is made off every Prius, and I wonder how many non-hybrids Toyota sold through the years simply because of the hybrid halo? And, how much extra money are dealers making now because of the Prius, of the Camry hybrid?

Still, head of Mercedes-Benz’s Research and Development, Dr Thomas Weber, told LeftLane “Most hybrids have a price premium but the question is whether the premium is enough to earn money. On smaller cars, that answer is ‘no’ right now, but we are developing modular architecture for hybridization and we believe it will be possible to be profitable straight away.”

Maybe small hybrids aren't profitable for Mercedes, but I'll bet Toyota isn't complaining. Likewise, Honda's new hybrid religion seems quite contrary to Mercedes - so, I think I'll put my money on Honda and Toyota.

Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, mercedes s400 hybrid, toyota prius

posted by Dahcredyns at 11:32 AM 11 Comments

Friday, February 29, 2008

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?

Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, lithium battery, mercedes s300 bluetec hybrid, mercedes s400 hybrid

posted by Dahcredyns at 10:41 AM 0 Comments

Thursday, November 15, 2007

S400 hybrid: Hottest hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show?

Mercedes getting its hybrid act together

No doubt, my biggest LA Auto Show disappointment has been Toyota. Not one word about hybrid cars at their press release.

Anyway, my favorite hybrid vehicle so far - purely based upon looks and luxury - is the Mercedes S400 diesel hybrid. That's right, I said diesel.

Early reports suggest about 30 mpg for this 275 hp V6 hybrid. It's not the greatest fuel economy, but it's one hot car.

Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, LA Auto Show, mercedes s400 hybrid

posted by Dahcredyns at 12:02 AM 2 Comments

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Hybrids at the LA Auto Show

Chrysler Aspen to debut at the LA Auto Show

I'll be at the LA Auto Show tomorrow and Thursday, and I am looking forward to checking out some new hybrid vehicles, such as the Chrysler Aspen hybrid and the Mercedes S400 diesel hybrid.

Later today I'll get another chance to drive GM's Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicle, and over the next couple of days I'll be talking with a number of GM hybrid and hydrogen execs., so stay tuned.

Labels: chevy equinox fuel cell vehicle, chrysler aspen hybrid, Hybrid Vehicles, LA Auto Show, mercedes s400 hybrid

posted by Dahcredyns at 9:26 AM 0 Comments

  • Home
  • Buyers Guide
  • Campaign for Hybrid Tax Credits
  • EPA Estimates and Hybrid Vehicles
  • Hybrid Cars
  • Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
  • Chevy Malibu Hybrid
  • Chevy Silverado Hybrid
  • Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
  • Ford Escape Hybrid
  • Ford Fusion Hybrid
  • GMC Sierra Hybrid
  • GMC Yukon Hybrid
  • Honda Accord Hybrid
  • Honda Civic Hybrid
  • Honda Insight Hybrid
  • Lexus GS 450h Hybrid
  • Lexus LS 600h L Hybrid
  • Lexus RX 400h Hybrid
  • Mazda Tribute Hybrid
  • Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  • Mercury Milan Hybrid
  • Nissan Altima Hybrid
  • Saturn Aura Hybrid
  • Saturn Vue Hybrid
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid
  • Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  • Toyota Prius
  • Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles

Editors Picks

Toyota Prius News

2010: The end of the hybrid hoax

Chevy Volt News

2 new Honda hybrid vehicles

Carbon schmarbon: It's foreign oil dependency, stupid

Jetta TDI better than the Toyota Prius?

Lexus RX 400 fuel economy

The Honda CR-Z hybrid vehicle

Will the Kia Rio hybrid be a reality?

Hymotion plug-in conversion kits

Leasing hybrid cars

Hybrid cars and EPA estimates: This is war

Toyota FT-HS sports hybrid

Hybrid cars versus biodiesel: Which is better?

Civic hybrid testimonials and reviews

Honda Fit hybrid coming!

Toyota Prius testimonials and reviews

Hybrid car reliability and Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports and hybrid cars: What you need to know

Diesel and biodiesel don't go far enough

The Chevy Volt is one of the most fascinating developments in the world of hybrid cars. Technically a series plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Chevy Volt is a game changer. Click here for more information on the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid vehicle.

----------------------------------

-> eMail=soultek@soultek.com

----------------------------------

-> Stay informed about your favorite hybrid vehicle and all hybrid issues. Join the Hybrid Car Club.

Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Enter E-Mail

----------------------------------

Previous Posts

  • Toyota's powerful DC friends? Are you kidding me?
  • GM's first dual mode hybrid cars
  • Toyota Prius interest on the rise
  • Billion dollar state budget losses: The cost of fu...
  • Prius unintended acceleration: Can Wozniak be wron...
  • CNN's fair and balanced Prius, Fusion hybrid cover...
  • Fusion hybrid also needs a brake fix
  • Prius recall now official
  • And yet 10,000 deaths per year means so little
  • Obama renews 'clean' coal and biofuels plan to red...

Archives

  • November 2004
  • December 2004
  • January 2005
  • February 2005
  • March 2005
  • April 2005
  • May 2005
  • June 2005
  • July 2005
  • August 2005
  • September 2005
  • October 2005
  • November 2005
  • December 2005
  • January 2006
  • February 2006
  • March 2006
  • April 2006
  • May 2006
  • June 2006
  • July 2006
  • August 2006
  • September 2006
  • October 2006
  • November 2006
  • December 2006
  • January 2007
  • February 2007
  • March 2007
  • April 2007
  • May 2007
  • June 2007
  • July 2007
  • August 2007
  • September 2007
  • October 2007
  • November 2007
  • December 2007
  • January 2008
  • February 2008
  • March 2008
  • April 2008
  • May 2008
  • June 2008
  • July 2008
  • August 2008
  • September 2008
  • October 2008
  • November 2008
  • December 2008
  • January 2009
  • February 2009
  • March 2009
  • April 2009
  • May 2009
  • June 2009
  • July 2009
  • August 2009
  • September 2009
  • October 2009
  • November 2009
  • December 2009
  • January 2010
  • February 2010
  • Chevy Malibu Hybrid Testimonials
  • Chevy Tahoe Hybrid Testimonials
  • Ford Escape Hybrid Testimonials
  • GMC Yukon Hybrid Testimonials
  • Honda Accord Hybrid Testimonials
  • Honda Civic Hybrid Testimonials
  • Honda Insight Hybrid Testimonials
  • Lexus GS 450h Hybrid Testimonials
  • Lexus RX 400h Hybrid Testimonials
  • Mazda Tribute Hybrid Testimonials
  • Mercury Mariner Hybrid Testimonials
  • Nissan Altima Hybrid Testimonials
  • Saturn Aura Hybrid Testimonials
  • Saturn Vue Hybrid Testimonials
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid Testimonials
  • Toyota Prius Testimonials
  • Toyota Highlander Hybrid Testimonials
  • More Editor's Picks
  • Why vouchers for clunkers, but only credits for hybrids?
  • 1,000,000 hybrid cars sold per year, but none American
  • Time to restore hydrogen and fuel cell funding?
  • Does the Volt really resonate in America?
  • Carbon schmarbon: It's foreign oil dependency, stupid
  • Jetta TDI better than the Toyota Prius?
  • Do Fisker and Tesla deserve government money?
  • Time to pull the plug on the Chevy Volt?
  • Would you buy a GM hybrid made in China?
  • How the UAW helped kill hybrids, small cars and GM
  • Ford's $20,000 hybrid?
  • Ford: Our hybrids are better
  • Is the Chevy Volt the wrong kind of plug-in hybrid?
  • Crude Awakenings on Peak Oil: Are we doomed?
  • Unimpressive plug-in Prius results?
  • Save Detroit: I think I need help
  • I hate gas guzzlers
  • Highway fuel economy is for suckers
  • Honda Civic Hybrid Testimonials

Powered by Blogger

Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]