Following the S 400 HYBRID and S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID the S 500 PLUG‑IN HYBRID is the third hybrid model in the new S-class. The series production launch of this technology began at Mercedes-Benz in 2009. In 2014 Mercedes-Benz will sell more hybrid automobiles than all other German manufacturers together. The company is up there among the leaders in the field of purely electric mobility, too. In the years to come the main emphasis will be on plug-in hybrids.

In 1982 Mercedes-Benz presented the first concept vehicle with hybrid drive - a two-cylinder horizontally opposed engine served to charge the battery. A number of other experimental vehicles followed until in 2009 the world's first standard-specification hybrid drive with lithium-ion battery debuted at Mercedes-Benz: this S 400 HYBRID was the most fuel-efficient petrol-powered luxury saloon for a long time. And the most successful hybrid in its segment: some 20,000 buyers worldwide opted for the S 400 HYBRID from the previous model series. In addition to the parallel hybrid transmission of the first generation a power-split hybrid transmission was developed. The ML 450 HYBRID started out on the American market with this transmission in 2009.

Based on the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission the second-generation hybrid transmission evolved. It premiered in 2012 in the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID, the first diesel hybrid in the premium segment worldwide. By combining the efficiency of a diesel engine with the advantages of the hybrid drive, Mercedes-Benz set another milestone in the development of the automobile and advanced into consumption regions of 4 litres of diesel per 100 km in the luxury saloon segment.

Again in 2012, in the E 400 HYBRID, and in 2013 in the new S 400 HYBRID, Mercedes-Benz carried on the tradition of hybrids with six-cylinder direct injection petrol engines, and in 2013 also put the second diesel hybrid, the S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID, on the market.

With the C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID Mercedes-Benz has completed its hybrid portfolio below the luxury class. In the years to come a number of other plug-in hybrid vehicles will follow.

Pioneer also in the field of purely electric mobility

With the smart fortwo electric drive and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive, Daimler AG is a pioneer in the field of purely electric mobility as well. Since 2014 the B-Class Electric Drive has also been on the market. Quiet, locally emission-free motoring is ensured by an electric motor generating 130 kW. Typically for an electric drive system, this develops its maximum torque of more than 340 newton metres from the very first touch of the accelerator. This is approximately equivalent to the torque from a modern three-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. The result is noticeably powerful acceleration from stationary. For the standard sprint from zero to 100 km/h, too, the electrically driven B-Class requires only 7.9 seconds. Effortlessly superior driveability and exhilarating driving pleasure with a high level of dynamism are thus guaranteed in every situation. In the interests of optimising the range, the top speed is electronically limited to 160 km/h. Depending on the driving cycle, the vehicle has a range of around 200 kilometres.

The electric vehicles and hybrids share the electric drive components from the Mercedes-Benz modular system.

Current range of hybrids in the luxury class

With the new S-Class Mercedes-Benz now continues its comprehensive hybrid offensive. The S 400 HYBRID and S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID are two further hybrids, in addition to the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID:

The S 400 HYBRID burns just 6.3 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres in the NEDC cycle (combined). This represents a reduction by 20 percent over the predecessor. CO2 emissions of 147 grams per kilometre is also a record in this vehicle segment. These exemplary figures go hand in hand with outstanding performance potential: the petrol engine develops 225 kW (306 hp), while the electric motor adds another 20 kW (27 hp). The torque of the combustion engine is 370 Nm plus 250 Nm from the electric motor.

In the S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID Mercedes-Benz has combined the 2.2‑litre four-cylinder diesel engine developing 150 kW (204 hp) with the powerful hybrid module developing 20 kW (27 hp). The peak torque of 500 Nm produced by the combustion engine is overlaid by the 250 Nm of peak torque produced by the electric motor. The S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID makes do with 4.4 litres per 100 km in the combined cycle (CO2: 115 g/km), and complies with the criteria for energy efficiency class A+. Consequently, Mercedes-Benz has nearly cut fuel consumption in the 150-kW performance class by half over the course of ten years.

All hybrid drive milestones at a glance:

Research vehicles

  • 1982: Mercedes-Benz concept employs a two-cylinder horizontally opposed engine

  • 1993: Mercedes-Benz "Taxi Hybrid" as first parallel hybrid. A C-Class combines a 55 kW (75 hp) four-cylinder diesel engine with an electric motor delivering 130 Nm and 20 kW (27 hp)

  • 2001: smart fortwo cdi. A 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor together with the 30 kW (41 hp) three-cylinder diesel engine forms a truly space-saving unit

  • 2002: Mercedes-Benz Unimog "E-Drive"

  • 2002: Mercedes-Benz M-Class "HyPer". ML 270 CDI with a 120 kW (163 hp) common-rail diesel engine and automated manual transmission. It features an electric motor with an output of 45 kW (61 hp) and high torque, installed between the engine and the transmission

  • 2003: Mercedes-Benz F 500 Mind. The four-litre V8 diesel power plant delivers 178 kW (242 hp) and 560 Nm. The electric motor adds another 48 kW (65 hp) and 300 Nm. The company showed the same drive system in the Mercedes-Benz Vision Grand Sports Tourer vehicle study

  • 2004: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with plug-in-hybrid drive

  • 2005: Mercedes-Benz S-Class "Hybrid". Eight-cylinder diesel engine developing 191 kW (260 hp) and 560 Nm, plus two electric motors with a total output of 50  kW (68 hp)

  • 2005: smart crosstown. Hybrid with three-cylinder petrol engine (45 kW) and electric motor (23 kW)

  • 2009: Concept BlueZERO in three versions: as electric car (E-CELL), as fuel cell-powered vehicle (F-CELL) and with range extender (E-CELL PLUS)

Production cars (hybrid and electric drive)

  • 2009: S 400 HYBRID (20,000 buyers worldwide)

  • 2009: ML 450 HYBRID

  • 2012: smart electric drive

  • 2012: E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID

  • 2012: E 400 HYBRID

  • 2013: SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive

  • 2013: S 400 HYBRID

  • 2013: S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID

  • 2014: C 300 BlueTEC Hybrid

  • 2014: B-Class Electric Drive

  • 9/2014: S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID

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