Mercedes-Benz introduces the Diesel-Electric E300 Bluetec Hybrid

08 March 2010

Mercedes-Benz E300 Bluetec Hybrid, the first production diesel-electric hybrid car in the world, was launched at the 2010 Geneva motor show last Tuesday. The company

Mercedes-Benz E300 Bluetec Hybrid, the first production diesel-electric hybrid car in the world, was launched at the 2010 Geneva motor show last Tuesday. The company utilised its E-Class platform to serve as a foundation for this new model. It will be available for sale in Europe by early 2011.

The E300 Bluetec Hybrid features a combination of diesel engine with an electric motor. The car is fitted with a 2.1-liter CDI turbo-diesel engine that generates 204 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It is coupled with a 15 Kilo-Watt electric motor that functions through lithium batteries and produces 20 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. The electric motor is positioned between the 7-speed automatic transmission and the internal combustion engine.

The car eats up 4.1 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres. It has very limited CO2 emission of just 109 g/km. The new E300 comes with all the standard features of traditional hybrids, which include stop/start function, purely electric driving, boost effect and recuperation. The car also presents the sailing and silent starting of the internal combustion engine through the high-powered electric motor.

On the other hand, the new E300 Bluetec is just a mild hybrid, which means that the cars electric motor should provide additional power for the internal combustion engine and restarting it when it stops. The car is incapable of operating in an all-electric mode just like hybrids such as the Toyota Prius.

The new E300 Bluetec Hybrid provides all the comforting features of every Mercedes vehicle. Its steering and air conditioning system are powered electrically, thus both the systems could work even if the combustion engine is not functioning.

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