Showing posts with label Mercedes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mercedes. Show all posts
Mercedes-Benz puts electric cars to the test at the Silvretta E-Rally
Montafon, Austria. At the renowned Silvretta Classic Rally in Montafon, Austria, 24 electric cars drove amongst the vintage cars that typically compete in this mountain race. The rally, cutting through the Austrian alps is demanding for the drivers and cars alike.
The initial lineup runs across the gamut, from concept cars to production vehicles. Daimler sent three electric vehicles of its fleet - The e-smart, the B-Class Fuel-Cell and its latest edition, the electric version of the super sports car SLS, the SLS AMG E-Cell.
(hat tip to Byron)
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Mercedes-AMG Provides Details on the SLS AMG E-CELL Electric Super Car
Mercedes-AMG, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars, provided an update on its development of an electric version of the SLS AMG, the development of which it announced last July.
With a power output of 392 kW (526 hp) and 880 N·m (649 lb-ft) of torque, the gullwing with electric drive is part of the company strategy entitled “AMG Performance 2015” which aims to continually reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The SLS AMG E-CELL may see a limited production run, the company says.
Traction is provided by four synchronous electric motors each achieving a maximum 12,000/rpm and positioned near to the wheels. Compared with wheel-hub motors the unsprung masses are substantially reduced. One transmission per axle transmits the power.
The electric model accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4 seconds—which almost puts it on the same high level as the SLS AMG with 6.3-liter V8 engine developing 420 kW (571 hp), which can accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. However, unlike the combustion engine, torque build-up with an electric motor is instantaneous—maximum torque is available virtually from a standstill.
The SLS AMG E-CELL drive incorporates a liquid-cooled high-voltage lithium-ion battery featuring a modular design with an energy content of 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah. The maximum electric load potential of the battery, which consists of 324 lithium-ion polymer cells, is 480 kW.
The intelligent parallel circuit of the individual battery modules helps to maximize the safety, reliability and service life of the battery. The 400-volt battery is also charged by means of targeted recuperation during braking while the car is being driven.
A high-performance electronic control system converts the direct current from the high-voltage battery into three-phase alternating current which is required for the synchronous motors and regulates the energy flow for all operating conditions. Two low-temperature cooling circuits ensure that the four electric motors and the power electronics are maintained at an even operating temperature.
A separate low-temperature circuit is responsible for cooling the high-voltage lithium-ion battery. In low external temperatures, the battery is quickly brought up to operating temperature with the aid of an electric heating element. This helps to preserve the overall service life of the battery. In extremely high external temperatures, the cooling circuit for the battery can be additionally boosted with the aid of the air conditioning system.
Battery pack modules are located in front of the firewall, in the center tunnel and behind the seats. Advantages of this solution include the vehicle’s low centre of gravity and balanced weight distribution. The installation of the drive components required no changes to the model’s weight-optimized aluminium spaceframe.
The additional front-wheel drive called for a newly designed front axle: unlike the series production vehicle with AMG V8 engine, which has a double wishbone axle, the SLS AMG E-CELL features an independent multilink suspension with pushrod damper struts. This is because the vertically-arranged damper struts in the series SLS had to make way for the additional drive shafts. As is usual in a wide variety of racing vehicles, horizontal damper struts are now used, which are operated via separate push rods and transfer levers.
This front-axle design, already tried and tested in motorsport, enables the agility and driving dynamics of the electrically-powered SLS AMG to attain the same high levels as the V8 variant. Another feature is the speed-sensitive power steering with rack-and-pinion steering gear: the power assistance is implemented electrohydraulically rather than just hydraulically.
The technology vehicle is slowed with the aid of AMG ceramic composite brakes, available as an optional extra for the series production model, which feature extremely short stopping distances, a precise actuation point and outstanding fade resistance, even in extreme operating conditions.
The over-sized discs—measuring 402 x 39 mm at the front and 360 x 32 mm at the rear—are made of carbon fibre-strengthened ceramic, feature an integral design all round and are connected to an aluminium bowl in a radially floating arrangement.
The ceramic brake discs are 40% lighter in weight than the conventional, grey cast iron brake discs. The reduction in unsprung masses not only improves handling dynamics and agility, but also ride comfort and tire grip. The lower rotating masses at the front axle also ensure a more direct steering response—particularly noticeable when taking highway bends at high speed. The ABS and ESP systems have been adapted to match the special application spectrum of the permanent all-wheel drive.
The air outlet openings on the hood and the vehicle sides have been modified for enhanced aerodynamics. The front apron has not only been brought further forward, but also helps to guarantee an optimized airflow in the area of the underbody. This improves air resistance while reducing downforce.
An extendable front splitter enhances this effect: in parallel with the automatic rear spoiler, it extends downwards by seven centimeters at speeds above 120 km/h (75 mph) and helps to further accelerate the air which travels beneath the car. When it reaches the area of the rear axle, the air enters the rear diffusor which, due to the lack of an exhaust system, features a steeper angle, thus increasing downforce at the rear axle and in turn further enhancing the aerodynamic balance.
The AMG instrument cluster and center console both feature a new design. The new AMG instrument cluster provides information on speed, charge status of the battery and the estimated range. The newly designed center console now houses a 25 cm touchscreen, which driver and passenger can use to conveniently operate all of the audio, climate and navigation functions, and also obtain information on the flow of power from the four electric motors.
The AMG Drive Unit, which is angled towards the driver, houses buttons for starting the motor, and the ESP functions, the AMG memory function and the extendable front splitter and rear spoiler. Using three new buttons, the driver can switch simply between P, R and D. The park setting is also enabled automatically by switching the electric motors off.
Ex F1 Driver David Coulthard Tests the Electric Gullwing
Ex F1 Driver David Coulthard gets invited to take the Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS E-Cell for a spin in Norway.
The video is fairly light on technical detail, he doesn't demonstrate the various levels of Regen which we would liked to have seen, but does feature several in-car scenes and a good shot of the LCD dash instruments in action.
There's no doubt Coulthard was impressed.
Closer look at the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-CELL
As in the Audi E-Tron, power in the SLS AMG E-CELL is routed through four electric motors, one at each wheel. With 526 hp and 649 lb-ft of torque—the latter available from 0 rpm—the SLS E-CELL is in league with some venerable supercars, even though it tips the scales at a considerable 4400 pounds.
Before you mat the throttle, consider the appropriate driving program. In the Comfort setting, the SLS shows its soft side, utilizing just 40 percent of the motors' capability and exhibiting cautious responses to inputs. Switch to Sport, and throttle response gets a bit sharper and 60 percent of the power and torque become available. In Sport Plus, you get a super-aggressive throttle and the entire 526 hp. In Comfort and Sport, applying full throttle still gets you full power in an instant. An additional mode, Manual, acts like Sport Plus but switches off regenerative braking entirely.
If you have so far associated electric cars with ridiculous, humming boxes on wheels, hang on. This car catapults you into another dimension. In the SLS E-CELL, getting from rest to 62 mph takes a four seconds flat; 130 mph, less than twelve. At 50 or 60, triple-digit speeds are mere seconds away, and the charge forward happens in utter silence. "Surreal" is a proper description for the acoustic character of this silent predator.
Autobahn credentials are standard, with a top speed governed at 155 mph. Ungoverned, 165 would be possible. That's shy of the 197 mph reached by the regular SLS, but enough to get you a room in a U.S. county jail. We were impressed by the absence of rattles, noises, and whines up to velocities well over 100 mph. At these speeds, a Tesla Roadster feels like a prototype, but this actual prototype seems ready for customer delivery. Incidentally, Mercedes insists that Tesla—in which it now has a stake of ownership—was in no way involved in the development of the E-CELL.
The SLS E-CELL offers four modes of regenerative braking, in addition to being completely off in the Manual powertrain setting, which leaves you "sailing" with minimal drivetrain drag. Paddles on the steering column allow you to gradually increase the resistance; steps one and two feel like a regular car coasting; step three is a bit more aggressive, and step four decelerates the SLS so strongly that AMG considered switching on the brake lights as soon as you take your foot of the accelerator. Unlike Tesla, AMG decided not to. This mode is perfect for extreme driving, when you are standing on one of the two pedals at all times anyway.
AMG has developed an entirely new front axle—a pushrod-actuated setup—which replaces the regular SLS's unequal-length control-arm design, and the steering is now electro-hydraulic. Like many similar systems, the steering could offer more feel and feedback. While we enjoy the silent, artificial character of the electric motors, we wouldn’t mind a bit more feedback from the chassis. Granted, this is a prototype, and as development progresses, it will benefit from torque vectoring, achieved by running the electric motors at different speeds.
This prototype carries a 48-kWh lithium-ion battery, but AMG hopes to fit the car with a 60-plus kWh battery pack when it becomes available to customers. The current range is about 90 miles, which is likely to grow to over 130 miles. The current claims are perhaps even conservative: After a sharply driven 60 miles, battery capacity was still around 30 percent. With a fast-charging station, it took just an hour to recharge the batteries to almost 100 percent. Extended trips still require planning, but the progress in battery technology is tangible.
If all goes according to plan, you will be able to buy the SLS E-CELL by late 2012 or early 2013—a half year or so after Audi launches the E-Tron. There is no word yet on pricing, but figure on a premium of $50K to $100K over the regular SLS. Just having the money won’t be enough to get you an E-CELL, though, as customers will be hand-picked.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-and-rear-motor, 4-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe
ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $250,000
MOTOR TYPE: 4 AC synchronous electric motors; combined power rating, 526 hp, 649 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION: 1-speed direct drive
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 105.5 in Length: 182.6 in
Width: 76.3 in Height: 49.3 in
Curb weight: 4400 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 62 mph: 4.0 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 155 mph
Leaked: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell (w/Video)
Images of Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell have been leaked ahead of its official unveiling. The photos show the car wearing ‘AMG lumilectric magno’ paint work giving it a distinct look, quite apart from the colours that the rest of the SLS AMG was originally shown in. Mercedes have promised that this will be the worlds first all-electric supercar when it goes on sale in 2013.
The SLS AMG E-Cell will be powered by four electric motors situated at each wheel. Power will be equivalent to 519 instantaneous horsepower and 649 lb-ft of torque allowing the E-Cell to glide effortlessly to 62mph (100kph) in just under 4 seconds. The lithium polymer batteries will be located behind the cockpit and down the center tunnel.
Other modifications to design include a new rear diffuser to produce more downforce, a multi-link front suspension with push-rod dampers is also now necessary at the front due to the extra space taken up by the front electric motors.
Enjoy the pictures and the videos, we’ll let you know when something official is released!
Smart Fortwo Electric Drive to Debuts in the US
The smart fortwo electric drive has made its debut in the United States. smart USA Distributor LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. will launch a program this fall that will place electric drive vehicles with partners in select regions of the country.
Smart USA will begin deploying a fleet of 250 electric drive vehicles across the United States this fall, targeting key electrification leadership cities and Department of Energy grant areas. smart USA is targeting companies, municipalities, organizations and individuals interested in making a passionate statement on conservation and environmental awareness.
Partners for vehicle placements will be announced later this year, and series production for consumer sales in smart center dealerships will begin in 2012 with the 2013 model year.
The United States’ fleet of 250 electric drive vehicles will begin arriving in October 2010 and is part of the second phase of a three-phase roll-out program. Phase one started with the placement of 100 electric drive units in London in 2007. Phase two is producing 1,500 cars for cities in Europe, the United States and Canada as well as selected markets in Asia, and first deliveries started in Germany late last year. Phase three will be series volume production starting in the 2012 model year.
The phase-two smart fortwo electric drive vehicles arriving in the United States this year are full electric vehicles, powered by a 30 kW drive motor and a 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Using a standard 220V outlet, it takes three and a half hours to charge the battery from 20 to 80 percent of its capacity and less than eight hours to fully charge it. The battery can also be charged using a common household 110V outlet. The vehicles can reach highway speeds and offer a range of 82 miles (132 km) on a single charge.
The US pilot program is intended to provide third-generation technology developers with performance experience in the breadth of different geographies and climates that make up the continental United States. The information gathered in the phase-two vehicle research will establish the performance, range capability and recharging time of the series production vehicles with third generation technology.
Separately, smart USA Distributor LLC also appointed a smart dealer to serve the Hawaiian islands, expanding smart USA’s retail footprint into its 37th state. The dealership, to be named smart center Honolulu, will open later this month and be managed by the Hawaii Automotive Retailing Group.
Electric Mercedes Gullwing Lands In 2013
The latest word on the electric AMG SLS “Gullwing” has Mercedes offering the car in 2013 and giving it enough power to leave a whole lot of cars in its dust.
Mercedes already confirmed it’s building an electric Gullwing, but the timeline had it reaching production in 2015. Now AMG managing director Volker Mornhinweg says the electric supercar will be here two years sooner. He’s driven the prototypes — he didn’t say how many there are — and promises the car will be as exciting as the Mercedes AMG SLS it’s based on.
“I can tell you that it is an amazing kind of experience,” he told Australia’s GoAuto.com.
That’s exactly what you’d expect him to say, of course. But the numbers coming out of Germany suggest the electric Gullwing will be a sweet ride. The plan calls for four motors with a combined output of 400 kilowatts (536 horsepower) and 649 pound-feet of torque. The all-wheel drive electric car will wear the same sexy bodywork as the conventional SLS (pictured), which has a 571-horsepower V8 that produces 479 pound-feet of torque.
“We can take (out) a combustion engine and transaxle and make no changes to the body, and we can put in two motors with the gearbox in the rear, two motors and the gearbox in the front and we can take the center console as a battery place – it looks like a T and it is perfect,” he said.
The gasoline model’s double-wishbone front suspension is tossed in favor of a pushrod-actuated system using coilovers. The car is said to have excellent handling because the electric motors can vary the power going to each wheel.
All that extra tech carries a weight penalty, and the electric SLS weighs 4,629 pounds — 992 more than the gasoline model. But Tobias Moeres, AMG’s head of vehicle development, says it “covers its weight very easily,” according to the Sydney Central newspaper. Again, that’s what you’d expect them to say. But with all that torque, Moeres says the car will do zero to 62 mph in less than 4 seconds — putting it on par with the Tesla Roadster. Top speed will be limited to 118 mph, presumably to maximize range.
Speaking of, Mercedes says the lithium-ion battery will be good for about 112 miles and recharge to 80 percent in as little as 20 minutes, a figure that’s gotta be dependent upon using a Level 3 (440-volt DC) charger. There aren’t a whole lot of those around, but maybe by 2013…
Price? With the SLS going for more than a quarter mil, look for the electric version to be as pricey as it is quick. Those of us without Swiss bank accounts can always get the electric Mercedes A-Class that’s said to be coming.
Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS eDrive due for production in 2013
AMG will display a closer-to-production version electric SLS eDrive supercar later this year as it works towards a full production version in 2013.
The Mercedes-Benz performance arm rolled out the first eDrive concept at the last September’s Frankfurt motor show, and many sceptics viewed it as a one-off green publicity push, but departing AMG managing director Volker Mornhinweg has said the car is much more than that.
He said the company was deep into the development process for the car and on track for a 2013 debut.
The SLS eDrive has one 100kW motor per wheel fed by a lithium-ion battery pack housed in the same body shell as petrol SLS models.
Having driven the prototypes, Mr Mornhinweg is confident the production model will deliver the same kind of emotion as the petrol version of the supercar.
“I can tell you that it is an amazing kind of experience,” he said. “Therefore we are on the way to transport the same emotion as you can have with the combustion engine.”
One issue with an electric vehicle is the relative silence of the powerplant, a crucial element of supercar such as the SLS.
AMG is against mimicking a combustion engine note and would prefer for it to sound electric, with the whirring of motors that goes with it.
“I can tell you there is a sound; it is not the same as a V8,” Mr Mornhinweg said.
“It is totally different. There is some wind noise, but when you push the throttle there is a sound that I would describe as interesting – it sounds new and futuristic.”
Mr Mornhinweg said the SLS was a good vehicle to turn into an electric car.
“This concept is perfect for e-drive because we can take (out) a combustion engine and transaxle (gearbox) and make no changes to the body in white, and we can put in two motors with the gearbox in the rear, two motors and the gearbox in the front and we can take the centre console as a battery place – it looks like a T and it is perfect,” he said.
The estimated range is about 180km.
Mr Mornhinweg said it was important to build an all-electric supercar first and could consider other technology for extending the range.
“To go one step back is easier,” he said.
“First of all we will make the big move and learn all about the technology in the future we have to implement.”
The make-up of electric vehicles will depend on battery technology advancements, Mornhinweg said.
“In the long run it depends on what will be the next move in the battery technology and the whole world is working on that like hell,” he said.
“On the other hand we could go one step back with a range extender or with a fuel cell. Our company is number one with fuel cells.”
AMG is looking at other ways of reducing the fuel consumption of its cars, including a possible boosted four-cylinder small car.
It will also move away from its 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8, which it calls a 6.3 for nostalgic reasons, opting instead for a more efficient twin turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 with direct injection that manages 420kW and 900Nm.
AMG says this engine will use about 25 per cent less fuel than the existing one.
This engine will be introduced in the large S-class sedan before being spread across the AMG range.
He agreed: “Without an e-motor (as a hybrid) I think so, except for very small ones such as range extenders.”
“The combustion engine we will see for the next decade, but it will be charged.”
Daimler to develop carbon fibre car parts
Japanese textile maker Toray Industries said on Wednesday that it and German carmaker Daimler AG will jointly develop carbon fibre car parts, which will be used in Daimler's Mercedes-Benz cars starting in 2012.
The first cars to use the new carbon fibre composite materials will be the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Toray spokesman Yoshitaka Yamagata said.
Toray and Daimler will develop reinforced plastic materials by using the carbon fibre produced at Toray's plant in France, he said.
This is the first time that Toray, the world's biggest maker of carbon fibre with a global market share of 34 percent, is developing carbon fibre car parts. The company has supplied carbon yarn for Ferrari's sports cars, Yamagata said.
Carbon fibre for use in cars accounted for an estimated 7 billion to 8 billion yen ($86 million) of Toray's revenue which is estimated at 1.35 trillion yen for the year ended March 31.
Daimler and Renault-Nissan announce joint venture
The motor industry consolidated further today as the Mercedes Benz group Daimler joined the Renault-Nissan alliance.
The car giants have agreed to take stakes in each other and work together to jointly develop new cars. Daimler wants to crack the small car market — reckoned to be the growth sector of the coming years. With Daimler looking to develop electric cars, the move could be good news for Nissan's plant in Sunderland. Nissan has named Sunderland as its leading European hub for the manufacture of the lithium-ion batteries which will power its and Renault's electric cars
The tie-in will involve Mercedes, Nissan, Smart, Renault and Infiniti working together on new models. Both partners are at pains to stress that the tie-in will not effect their brand identities, saying they will use the partnership to drive down costs on shared parts, but continue to engineer in specific parts to ensure differing characteristics of their products.
Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of Daimler, said: "Our skills complement each other very well. Right away, we are strengthening our competitiveness in the small and compact car segment and are reducing our CO2 footprint - both on a long-term basis.
"We know that we can make brand-typical products based on shared architectures. The individual brand identities will remain unaffected."
Renault-Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn added: "This agreement will create lasting value for the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler as we work on broadening and strengthening our product offering, efficiently utilising all available resources and developing the innovative technologies required in the coming decade."
The aim is to make what a Daimler insider described to Autocar as “billions of euros in annual savings for both sides”.
A similar deal between Daimler and BMW broke down last year due to differences in engineering philosophy on small cars and engines. BMW will now seek closer working ties with PSA.
At the heart of the Daimler/Renault co-operation is Project Edison - an initiative to create a platform to underpin the next Smart Fortwo, Forfour and the Renault Twingo. These models will use a rear-engine/rear-wheel drive layout, while the Smarts will also feature today’s Tridion safety cell, which is considered a unique selling point for the Smart brand.
The new Smart Fortwo, the Smart four-seater and the new Renault Twingo are scheduled to be launched from 2013 onwards. The Smart plant in Hambach, France will produce the two-seaters, while the Renault plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia will build the four-seaters. From launch, these cars will be available with electric drive variants.
The second major component of the deal will be drivetrain sharing. Project Edison will include an electric powertrain based on the Smart ED, and there will be a range of new three and four-cylinder petrol and diesels to be uses in Mercedes, Smarts, Renaults and Nissans.
Ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 litres, the engines will be engineered by Daimler and built by Renault. They will be used in cars such as the next A and B-class, as well as forthcoming Clios and Meganes.
Daimler will also pass its current petrol and diesel engine technology to Infiniti. This would result in Daimler supplying Renault with V6 and V8 petrol and diesel engines as well as a new automatic transmission to replace today’s seven-speed 7G-Tronic unit for use in future Infiniti models.
Although not part of the initial co-operation, Daimler sources reveal Renault’s Ghosn is also investigating using Mercedes-Benz’s new front- and four-wheel drive MFA (modular front antrieb) platform set to underpin the new A- and B-class for a proposed entry-level Infiniti model.
The companies will also collaborate on light van projects. As part of this deal, Renault-Nissan will make its diesel engine and transmission technology available for use in the Mercedes Vito.
As part of the deal, Daimler will take a cross-shareholding of 3.1 per cent in Nissan and Renault. Renault-Nissan will take the same stake in Daimler.
It's not known how this will effect Daimler's 10% stake in Tesla Motors.
Daimler, BYD in China electric car partnership
Daimler AG says it has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's BYD Co. to develop jointly electric vehicles for the fast-growing Chinese market.
Daimler said Monday the two companies envision a "comprehensive technology partnership" that would result in a vehicle specific to the Chinese market's requirements.
It said the plan is for the car to be marketed under a new brand jointly created and owned by Daimler and BYD and for the companies to set up a common technology center in China to develop, design and test the vehicle.
Daimler didn't say when the planned vehicle might be ready.
Daimler's Mercedes-Benz plans to introduce an all-electric version of its A-Class car this year. BYD plans to launch its own electric e6 soon.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class diesel-hybrid coming next year
It appears that Mercedes-Benz has big plans for 2011 as it will be the first car manufacturer to sell a diesel-electric hybrid, according to chairman Dieter Zetsche. The model which will get this technology will be the E-Class and will be called E300 Hybrid.
According to our sources, the new model will carry a twin-turbocharged 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine found on the E250 CDI but also the brushless electric motor and a lithium ion battery similar the technology found on the S400 Hybrid. Also, the new vehicle will be a mild hybrid, which means that the electric motor will only assist the diesel engine and will not be used to propel the car on its own. The good news is that the new E300 Hybrid will be capable to deliver an impressive fuel consumption of 56mpg on the combined cycle and if the car will be a success, then expect to see this technology also on the M-, GL- and R-Class but also on the smaller GLK.
Mercedes-Benz plan Plug-In Hybrid S-Class
Due for sale in 2012, the new S-Class sedan will be offered with plug-in hybrid technology, and eventually this option will be offered across the automaker’s fleet.
The information comes from Mercedes-Benz research and development chief Thomas Weber, who explained to Autocar during a recent interview that it “makes a lot of sense to bundle the high-price tech option to the sort of customers willing to pay for this sort of thing.”
The technology has already been previewed by last year’s Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid Concept, which combined a 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine with an electric motor running on lithium-ion batteries.
Dropping this powertrain into the next-generation S-Class, which is also expected to benefit from a weight reduction program and aerodynamic aids, Mercedes-Benz could potentially deliver the promised 70 mpg luxury sedan.
There won’t be a purely electric version, however. Weber ruled such a car out due to concerns over its range. Note, however, that a plug-in hybrid version could potentially drive on all-electric power alone for short distances.
As for the rest of the lineup, expect a new range of “MoVe” modular V-6 and V-8 engines featuring direct-injection and turbocharging technologies.
Mercedes SLS Electric Supercar more details revealed
What did we say about the Electric Sports Car PR war between Mercedes and Audi? The same day news breaks of Audi's media test drives of the e-tron EV supercar, Mercedes announce they have started on road tests of the electric version of the SLS and are still on target for a 2013 launch.
AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg says that AMG engineers are still confident that the electric SLS will meet all of it's performance objectives: a 0-60mph time of 4.0 seconds with a battery range of around 110 miles.
"Effectively being four-wheel-drive does alter its character, but our torque vectoring systems give us opportunities to make it as good," he said. "It's important to get the emotional level of an EV right and we have some solutions."
The electric SLS is powered by three batteries, which add up to power equatable to 525bhp and 649lb ft of torque. But these will exact a weight penalty on the production car: it will come in at 1900kgs, compared to the 1620kg petrol version.
Merc has also yet to set an estimated price for the electric SLS - offering it as a lease only car is still a possibility.
Mercedes-Benz To Launch ML450 Hybrid
Mercedes-Benz is going to launch its ML450 Hybrid, the first European full hybrid vehicle to be offered in the US, on November 16.
Featuring V8-like power with four-cylinder fuel economy, the ML450 Hybrid features two electric motors and a 275-hp V6 gasoline engine. Both work together to provide hybrid power with fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon (mpg) around town and 24mpg on the highway.
The company said that ML450 Hybrid joins the S400 Hybrid and BlueTEC diesel models in its portfolio of fuel-efficient and environmentally compatible vehicles. It would be offered as part of a special lease only option (no purchase) for a monthly lease price of $659 per month for 36 months and $549 per month for 60 months.
The company claims that the new Hybrid fulfills the same crash test requirements and offers active safety with stability control systems such as ESP, ABS and BAS, as well as 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The integration of the hybrid technology has been engineered to require no additional packaging space that would compromise comfort or functionality.
Supercar Showdown: Mercedes SLS EV Vs Audi e-Tron
Two German big guns have set up a dual to see who will be the first to market with an AWD EV sports car. Audi stole the show in Frankfurt with an exaggerated, headline grabbing claim of 4500 Nm of torque for the eTron. While Mercedes didn't have their weapon on show in Frankfurt they did make a preemptive strike by leaking news of their SLS EV supercar prior to the show.
While details are a bit sketchy on both vehicles, they are each reportedly headed for series production and are expected to hit showrooms around 2013-2015, so lets compare what we already know.
Both the Mercedes SLS and Audi eTron are AWD with individual motors driving each wheel. These aren't in-wheel motors, they are mounted in-board on the chassis with power transmitted to the wheel via a reduction gearbox and drive shaft.
Mercedes claim 878 Nm (649 ft/lb) for their 392 KW (532 hp) SLS while Audi claimed 4500 Nm (3319 ft/lb) for their 230 Kw (313 hp) eTron. The hocky bit is where along the transmission line they measure the torque.
When a normal road going vehicle is rated for power and torque the figures are measured at the engines flywheel. Mercedes seem to have followed that convention and measured torque at the output shaft of the electric motors. In an effort to take advantage of ignorant media, Audi have decided to ditch convention and measure torque at the wheels, after the torque multiplication of the reduction gearbox. Without knowing their gear ratios we can only speculate how much torque the eTron motors really output, but it will be a fraction of their claim.
We'd have to take all performance estimates with a grain of salt at this stage. Audi estimate 4.8 seconds 0-60 mph which sounds very conservative and even under 4 seconds for the Mercedes sounds shy of the mark. Considering the SLS will have twice the power and twice the traction of a Tesla Roadster we calculate sub 3 seconds may be possible, putting the car in the same league as the 1000 hp AWD Bugatti Veyron.
It will be very interesting to see what they each come up with as far as vehicle dynamic control is concerned. Having an individual motor on each wheel hasn't been put into road car production before, despite the fact that a very young Ferdinand Porsche made his name by putting wheel motors on a battery electric car as long ago as 1897.
Some of the most advanced systems used in World Championship motorsport can be replicated using wheel motors. For example, active differentials are now banned from World Rallying on a cost reduction basis but they are still used in Formula One. An active differential is a computer controlled hydro-mechanical diff center that can vary the percentage of lock up going into and out of corners.
In Rallying where AWD systems required 3 active diffs, the general requirement was for all 3 diffs to open on the approach to a corner, so the driver could throw the car at the scenery, then to lock up on exiting a corner for maximum AWD traction. In Formula One the requirements are slightly different due to the different style of driving required. The diff is fully lock when braking into a corner, released on turn in, then locked again on exit. Currently active diffs are hydro-mechanical-electronic systems. When using wheel motors these feature can be replicated in software making the system cheap enough for series production.
Advanced braking features are another area with huge potential. Audi has said they plan to use a brake-by-wire system in the eTron that will retain ceramic friction brakes on all four wheels in combination with actively variable brake regeneration. They still sound like they're undecided on which technology to go with as they say they will use hydraulic brake calipers on the front wheels, servo operated electric brake calipers on the rear and four wheel motors in alternator mode all operated by a single by-wire control system.
Neither Audi or Mercedes made mention of ABS or stability control features being developed based on their wheel motor systems but considering Mercedes is an industry leader when it comes to automated and advanced braking systems, they were the first by a long way to introduce semi-auto braking systems in production cars with their DISTRONIC system in 1999, we can be sure they have something interesting in the pipeline.
Considering some of the performance cars these two companies have produced, the 450 Kw (612 hp) 6.0 liter V12 BITURBO SL 65 AMG currently produced by Mercedes or the 373 Kw (500hp) Audi Sport Quattro S1, it's almost a torment to have to wait 3-5 years to see these next generation EV supercars hit the road.
| Spec | Mercedes SLS EV | Audi e-Tron |
| Launch date | 2015 | 2013 |
| Transmission | AWD | AWD |
| Front/Rear Power | 98 KW (133 Hp) | 57.5 Kw (78 Hp) |
| Total output | 392 Kw (532 Hp) | 230 Kw (313 Hp) |
| Torque | 878 Nm (649 ft/lb) | 682 Nm (501.5 ft/lb) |
| Weight | 1900 kg | 1600 kg |
| Battery | - | 53 kWh |
| Range | 150 – 180 km (93 – 112 Miles) | 248 km (154 Miles) |
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