Daimler has today announced that their smart ed all electric vehicle is all set to enter production this November. The first production models are expected to hit dealerships sometime in early 2010.

If you’re not familiar with the smart ed, this vehicle features a lithium ion powered electric motor good for a range of 71 mph. Just because it’s such a small car doesn’t mean it has to be excruiatingly slow as the smart ed’s 30kW electric moter will make for a sprint from 0 to 60 km/h in 6.5 seconds. Not bad for such a car.

via Press

Continue reading...

To stirr up hype surrounding their soon-to-be released energy efficient vehicles Daimler has released a press releasing showing off their new Road to the Future campaign. This press release doesn’t tell us much in terms of stuff we didn’t already know but below is a list of the release’s highlights, courtesy of AutoBlogGreen:

Mercedes-Benz will offer 58 BlueEFFICIENCY models for sale by the end of 2009 (there are 49 vehicles in the image above, in case you were wondering).

Daimler is using a three-pronged approach to increasing efficiency: better internal combustion engines, more efficient hybrids, and bringing electric and fuel cell vehicles to market.

More information, including updates on “the development of electric mobility,” will be coming at the Frankfort Motor Show this fall. Mercedes unveiled its “Road to the Future” concept at the 2007 show.

Full press release after the break. Be warned, it’s lengthy!
(more…)

Continue reading...

Just about two month after purchasing 10% of Tesla Motors it was announced that Daimler will sell 4% of that stake to Aabar Investments, a Middle East invement fund.

Furthermore, Daimler announced that they and Aabar will pursue a joint venture into low emissions transportation. Perhaps another automaker to go along with Telsa?

Either or, more money into Tesla means more affordable all-eletric vehicles for the public. I’m all for it!

Read (AutoBlogGreen)

Continue reading...

Daimler finally launched its own hybrid car version, the Mercedes Benz S Class which will come either in electric or petrol. The new hybrid Mercedes is now available in Europe, options that should give aspiring car owners of choosing between fuel consumption or electric power, the latter of which has been which many are talking about as of late.

The “CO2 champion of luxury cars,” as Mercedes bills it, nonetheless cranks out 186 to 189 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, remaining one of the biggest polluters on the road, well above the European average of around 160 grams.

“For years, the German automobile sector did not believe hybrids had a chance…..but at a certain point, under market pressure, the industry changed its mind,” said Stefan Bratzel, professor at a specialized auto center in the western city of Bergisch Gladbach.

Despite being branded as anti-environment for its continued production of fuel-powered cars, the new Mercedes Benz S Class electric version should somehow even the odds. At least this time, car buyers can be given the choice, something that is obviously a business prerogative when it comes to choosing which car is wise to buy considering the current world economic situation.

(Source) Auto India

Continue reading...

For people who need more information and actual demonstrations on the proper understanding of hydrogen and renewable fuel, perhaps a visit to Downtown Seattle can do the trick. Propel Fuels has arranged for a Hydrogen Vehicle Showdown in Seattle, providing a preview on the latest in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle designs.

Also, the show aims to properly educate people on the perks and benefits that renewable fuel brings to society, a familiar term we have been hearing for the past months in connection for the call towards new vehicles running on alternative sources of fuel. Fuel cell vehicles from Daimler, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen are on display, and experts from these companies are on hand to answer questions from Propel customers and alternative fuel enthusiasts.

“Propel’s fueling platform delivers advanced low carbon fuels including biodiesel from waste stream feedstocks like recycled fats and oils, and locally grown, marginal land crops like camelina,” said Rob Elam, President and Co-Founder of Propel. “Our fueling platform has the forward-flexibility to accommodate advanced fuels such as bio-methane, hydrogen and electric charging as these vehicle technologies gain momentum in the marketplace. Today’s event shows how close these vehicles are to commercialization.”

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Daimler will be putting the icing on the cake of a successful five year run for its A-Class F-Cell powered vehicle with its participation at the Hydrogen Road Tour 09 at California today. This nine-day road trip is a great way to showcase the F-Cell hydrogen vehicle, competing alongside other car manufacturers showcasing their own hydrogen powered vehicle programs.

Fuel cell technology is key to emission-free driving in the future, as it is the only emission-free technology equally suited for both short and long distance mobility. Bringing fuel cell technology to market requires efficient cooperation between political decision-makers, the oil industry, the energy sector, and other potential investors.

The call for alternative fuel to run vehicles is apparent. And armed with a 5-year backing on its fuel cell technology, Daimler surely has the lead in convincing people on which company has the inside track, having a tried and tested car that has been around for the past five years.

So you may say, regardless of the outcome of this tour, Daimler will be up there among the choices of fuel cell cars that may come out in the future.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

It was recently made known that Daimler would be buying a 10% stake in Tesla motors, makers of the popular all electric Tesla Roadster.

The announcement was made during a press release held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart earlier today. This new deal involves Daimler providing parts and engineering that may be appearing in the upcoming Tesla Model S.

Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Daimler, comments on the parnternship:

Our strategic partnership is an important step to accelerate the
commercialization of electric drives globally. As a young and dynamic company Tesla stands for visionary power and pioneering spirit. Together with Daimler’s 120 years of experience in the automotive sector this collaboration is a unique combination of two companies’ strengths. This marks another important milestone in Daimler’s strategy for sustainable mobility.

Read more in the press release after the break. (more…)

Continue reading...

If there was a company that would not be suffering from the economic downturn, it would be a rare occurrence. Luxury cars are expected to bear the brunt of this down times and Daimler just justified that as they have reported a decline of sales of their Mercedes Benz line.

Mercedes-Benz USA today reported April sales of 14,565 vehicles, a decline of 28.1 percent over April 2008. The volume leaders for the month were the C, GLK, and M-Class with sales of 4,274, 1,869, and 1,838 respectively. On a year-to-date basis, the company sold 54,799 new vehicles, a decrease of 29.7 percent over the comparable period last year.

Year to date sales now total 6,282 units which represents a 2 percent increase versus April 2008 year-to-date sales. Since its introduction in the United States, there are over 30,000 smart fortwos traveling the highways throughout America. The smart fortwo offers the right balance of power, outstanding fuel efficiency, innovative safety features, environmental friendliness and excellent value. There are currently 75 smart centers in 35 states.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Daimler has been hot on the coattails of Tesla for the battery requirements of its electric Smart. However, if these spotted pictures are reliable, then perhaps Daimler and Tesla have finally bound a prototype as a glimpse of things to come.

To further support the current phase of the vehicle, here is an actual video from Autoblog Green to make believers out of people relying solely on rumors.

(Source) Engadget

Continue reading...

Reports are not confirmed yet but it looks like Volvo is losing something else other than car sales. Award-winning design director of Volvo, Steve Mattin, has reportedly left the company but there was nothing definite on where he was headed or who will replace him.

The UK-born Mattin, who worked with then Daimler-Chrysler for 17 years, before coming to Volvo. Mattin was the design director for Volvo since 2005 and has been a great influence in the design creations of models like the C30, XC60, and lately, the S60 Concept from Detroit.

With Daimler-Chrysler, Mattin also made significant contributions to a wide-range of models including the SL, SLK, SLR, R-Class, M-Class and the Maybach line-up. Next week might prove to be more enlightening in this regard, but these are just symptoms of the crisis Volvo is facing at this time.

(Source) Auto Blog

Continue reading...

In a move that is expected to help in Daimler’s shift towards the development of electric vehicles, Tesla Motors and the German-based company have reached an agreement to which Tesla will be supplying lithium-ion batteries, chargers and other components for the electric version of the Smart.

Daimler had debuted a gasoline-powered version of its Fortwo model in the United States in early 2008. It sold 24,622 of those cars last year.

Tesla has been involved with Daimler for more than a year, but neither company would confirm the deal before Tuesday. Musk also said the deal with Daimler wasn’t exclusive, and that Tesla was looking for other automaking partners.

(Source) Mercury News

Continue reading...

There were talks that German car giant Daimler may possibly buy Volvo from Ford. However after some careful deliberation and study, Daimler passed on the said deal, seeing more drawbacks than benefits which placed Volvo back on the bidding table. BMW likewise had initial interest but eventually declined to push through with their sale.

So where does this leave Ford and Volvo? For now, it does put a dent towards Ford’s intent to unload some product lines that it cannot really handle. Volvo on the other hand is not doing so well. In fact, it has made job cuts as early as June but most of them were in Swedish territory.

According to Der Spiegel, Daimler foresaw problems with harmonizing Volvo parts and practices with its own prestige Mercedes cars, which would require substantial investment and small returns.

It looks like Volvo has to wait for another interested buyer, if any, in the midst of this crisis we are in.

Via Asiaone Motoring

Continue reading...

Who ever said that the world is coming to an end, economically speaking of course? While other car manufacturers are cutting their losses and firing thousands, Daimler AG seems to live in a different world. The company will hire some 1,000 extra workers in 2009. 500 of those will be based in Stuttgart while the rest are to be distributed worldwide. So that’s where you need to be in case Volvo has just fired you!

The new positions will train the next generation of Daimler workers. That doesn’t mean Dailmer will be cutting any positions as these are safely guarded until 2012 by the agreement between the car maker and its employees.

via CNN

Continue reading...