Both the Vito light van and the Viano large capacity van have received a revamp from Mercedes-Benz as it bids to slash both fuel consumption and emission levels.

Thanks to new engines and new transmissions, both vehicles will now comply with Euro 5 emission standards; and BlueEFFICIENCY technology with ECO start/stop will be provided as standard.

The revamped Mercedes-Benz Vito panel van.

In the case of the Vito, all diesel engines will be equipped with an oxidation catalytic converter as well as a particulate filter and cooled exhaust gas recirculation.  

A four-cylinder CDI will be at the core of the new generation of engines and represents an increase in power output and torque in comparison to its predecessors but also reduces fuel consumption and emissions by around 15 per cent depending on the engine variant. 

Also included are demand responsive auxiliary units with an oil pump that controls delivery rate automatically, which reduces power output and lowers fuel consumption. The ECO Gear six-speed transmission meanwhile, is available as standard for all Vito models with a four-cylinder diesel engine and with its broad gear ratio spread is one of the keys to better fuel economy.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz will make BlueEFFICIENCY technology available as an option for the Vito panel van. It includes an ECO start/stop function; battery management; minimum rolling resistance tyres; an ECO power steering pump; a shift point indicator; a controlled fuel pump; and internal engine measures. 

As for the new Viano, two engine variants will be made available with the new ECO Gear six-speed manual transmission offered as standard. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will fall by around five per cent.

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The Mercedes-Benz Vito will soon be electrified after the German car maker announced plans to produce a small series of 100 Vito E-CELL vans and a further 2,000 units from 2011.

Targeted at inner-city operations, the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL will have an operating range of around 81 miles, a payload of 1,984lbs, a top speed of 50mph and a long wheelbase of 3,200mm.

Propelled by a permanent synchronous electric motor it will develop a continuous 60kW as well as a peak output of 70kW. Maximum torque from the vehicle will be 280Nm and power will be transferred to the front wheels via a single speed transmission that has been developed specifically for the model.

A number of steps have been taken to limit the use of space and to boost environmental performance. These include a front-wheel drive system with the electric motor and other components, including the transformer, grid charging unit and power electronics, housed under the engine cover. Lithium-ion batteries are included under the load compartment floor and the batteries feature a high performance and load capacity. They can be charged at charging stations provided to the pilot customers by two energy providers – EnBW and Vattenfall – with charging taking a maximum of six hours.

Batteries are also charged using regenerative braking and the Vito E-CELL includes a smart charge communication unit as standard to enable smart charging. 

The first 100 Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL vans will be delivered to customers between August and December this year with customer trials scheduled for four years and roughly 49,700miles per vehicle, after which they will be returned to Mercedes-Benz.

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It’s not all about going green here on TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk – sometimes we can acknowledge companies that are going blue too.

Take for example Mercedes-Benz, which is introducing a new S350 BlueTec engine equipped with a selective catalytic reduction system that uses AdBlue and complies with emission levels outlined for 2014 as part of the EU6 standard.

The combined fuel consumption is 35mpg with CO2 emissions at 177g/km making the new V6 diesel model 11 per cent more economical than its predecessor. Meanwhile the power output has actually increased by 10 per cent and torque is 15 per cent higher at 620Nm.

Capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds, the S350 BlueTec has a top speed of 155mph with the AdBlue tank installed under the luggage compartment floor with a capacity of 6.8gallons. The tank is replenished at regular maintenance intervals every 15,500miles.

The new Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec is available from €76,279.

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Who said electric cars have to be small and clunky? Mercedes-Benz clearly has other ideas.

Its performance brand, Mercedes-AMG, has provided an update of its electric SLS-AMG (pictured below). The vehicle, originally announced in July, has a power output of 392kW and 880Nm of torque with traction provided by four synchronous electric motors that are capable of achieving a maximum 12,000rpm.

The Mercedes AMG SLS E-CELL

The electric drive vehicle is part of the company’s AMG Performance 2015 which aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Known as the SLS AMG E-CELL it is expected to enjoy a limited production run.

With the ability to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just four seconds, this electric vehicle is almost at the same level as the regular SLS AMG which can accelerate over the same distance in just 3.8seconds. However, unlike the combustion engine, the torque build-up with the electric motor is instantaneous with maximum torque available from a virtual standstill.

The vehicle features a liquid-cooled high-voltage lithium-ion battery with a modular design and an energy content of 48kWh and a capacity of 40Ah. Its high performance electronic control system can convert the direct current from the high voltage battery into a three-phrase alternating current that is required for the synchronous motors.

Among the additional features that enhance its environmental performance are ceramic brake discs that are 40 per cent lighter than the conventional, grey cast iron brake discs. There are also air outlet openings on the bonnet and the vehicle sides that have been modified for enhanced aerodynamics while the front apron has been brought further forward to improve air resistance while reducing down force.

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Mercedes-Benz and smart have started the installation of recharging points across their dealer networks in preparation for the, what is hoped will be a widespread uptake of electric vehicles in the UK.

So far 20 Elektrobay recharging units, produced by Brighton-based Elektromotive, have been installed at seven locations as part of a pilot project, and further expansion of the initiative is planned later this year.

smart will be starting public trials of the latest version of the zero emission, smart electric drive later this summer. The Elektrobays have been given designated charging bays at Mercedes-Benz/smart sites and can be used now by motorists involved in the smart fortwo electric drive trial.

So far three units have been installed at Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey, a further three at the Mercedes-Benz UK in Milton Keynes, four at the flagship Mercedes-Benz dealership in Brentford, seven at three Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the Midlands, and three outside the showroom on Edgware Road, London.

All of the installation work has been undertaken by Vinci Energies United Kingdom, which is partnering with Elektromotive to deploy an infrastructure in the UK capable of charging electric vehicles whenever they are stationary at home, in public car parks, at the kerbside and at the workplace.

Dermot Kelly, managing director Mercedes-Benz Cars said: “Electric vehicles will form an increasingly important part of our product development plans, and it is crucial that we put in place a recharging infrastructure to help our dealers and customers join the zero-emission revolution. Elektromotive is the natural partner for this project, and we are delighted with the work that they have done so far in getting the Elektrobay recharging points up and running.”

Calvey Taylor-Haw, managing director of Elektromotive, added: “This is the first time that Elektromotive has worked so closely with a vehicle manufacturer to install Elektrobays at dealerships.  It is an exciting and important development in the creation of a nationwide recharging infrastructure, and is an approach we expect to be copied by other car makers and their retail networks in the UK and beyond.”

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It seems that it’s a new trend in motoring for auto manufacturers to join forces on green cars – and now you can add another partnership to the list.

BYD Company Limited and Daimler AG have signed a contract to create a 50:50 research and technology joint venture entitled Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co Ltd. The new venture will develop an electric vehicle for the Chinese market with around €72million to be invested.

The new electric vehicles are expected to capitalise on Daimler’s know-how in the market having recently launched the Smart Fortwo electric drive and with plans for two Mercedes-Benz electric cars – the B-Class F-CELL with fuel cell technology; and the battery electric A-Class E-CELL. It will also capitalise on BYD’s expertise in battery technology with Wang Chuangu, the chairman and president of BYD Company Limited, stating the partnership will be a unique and exciting initiative to bring this new electric vehicle to market as soon as possible.

Dr Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG, backed these comments stating that the joint venture is well positioned to make the most of the vast potential for electric mobility in China.

The two signed the joint venture contract in Beijing with engineers, designers and other executives establishing working teams after the signing to begin work on the vehicle concept.

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Daimler and Toyota are considering a cooperation to develop fuel cells to use in electrically powered cars, according to the Financial Times Deutschland.

Neither firm has made any definitive statement regarding a joint development programme for the alternative fuel systems, but an unnamed source at Daimler told the financial paper; "There is strong interest in sharing development costs”.

Fuel cells are expensive to produce and have so far taken second place to battery-powered cars due to their high cost and a lack of refuelling infrastructure.

Daimler has already invested more than 1 billion euros into fuel cell technology since 1994. Both carmakers have produced fuel cell prototypes such as Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell and Toyota’s Highlander FCHV.

Toyota has also outlined plans to put its first hydrogen fuelled vehicle on the road by 2015.

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A new joint development agreement indicates that Mercedes-Benz may soon boast more carbon fibre reinforced plastics in its vehicles.

Toray Industries is teaming with Daimler to promote the joint development of diverse carbon fibre automobile components by using high cycle resin transfer moulding and a moulding process technology developed by Toray. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Toray will be responsible for developing optimal carbon fibre reinforced plastic materials, as well as for handling the design and moulding processes; while Daimler will be responsible for developing joining technologies. Then by combining these technologies, the companies hope that they will develop a shorter moulding cycle with the newly developed parts to feature in Mercedes-Benz vehicles within the next three years.

Toray is currently the world’s largest manufacturer of carbon fibre and in June 2008 established the Automotive Centre, a development base for automotive applications, as well as a centre for developing technology and applications for carbon fibre reinforced plastics known as the Advanced Composite Centre. Now with its collaboration with Daimler it hopes to establish mass production technology for carbon fibre reinforced plastic car parts, while also expanding its carbon fibre and advanced composite business.

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Mercedes will release its brand new Shooting Break concept car as part of Auto China 2010.

The Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break boasts a six cylinder engine that produces 225kW with special features including the latest generation of piezo-electric injection valves which enable multiple injections. Thanks to load monitoring of the pressure information, the vehicle also boasts better lean operation with the engine setting a new standard in terms of fuel consumption in line with Mercedes’ BlueEFFICIENCY criteria.

The new Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break Concept Car.

According to Press information, the Shooting Break represents insight into Mercedes’ future development of the Coupe concept. The term Break was once given to carriages used to break in wild horses and restrict their urge to move. Where necessary they were often fitted with variable bodies that were only used to carry anything that may have been necessary for the hunt.

From then on, any vehicle that was used when going out shooting was known as a Shooting Brake or Shooting Break. They were particularly popular in the 1960s and 1970s as exclusive crossover vehicles in the UK.

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Mercedes-Benz has been steadily cleaning up its image over the last few years and now it has taken another step towards its environmental goal with the introduction of two new models.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class C180 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY and the C200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY include four-cylinder direct injection petrol engines with features such as a six-speed manual transmission and ECO start/stop. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are around 10 per cent lower than the versions they replace.

The C200 model has fuel consumption at around 34.6mpg with CO2 emissions at 158g/km. Yet despite the drop in fuel consumption, the peak torque has actually increased from 250Nm to 270Nm and the vehicle can accelerate to 100km/h in just 8.2seconds. Meanwhile, the C180 model also has a higher torque than the outgoing version at 250Nm compared to 230Nm and can reach 100km/h in 9.0 seconds. At the heart of these impressive figures for both models is the start/stop function that turns the engine off as soon as the speed falls below 5mph once the driver has applied the brakes and moved the gear into neutral. It starts again when the driver presses the accelerator or clutch.

Similarly, a new C220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY will be introduced – this also includes an ECO start/stop function as well as a six-speed manual transmission. Its CO2 emissions fall from 127g/km to 117g/km with fuel consumption at 53.5mpg. This makes it the most fuel efficient C-Class model yet.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz will introduce a C250 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY model that incorporates a four-cylinder engine and four-wheel drive. It offers the same power output as outgoing models but with higher torque.

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