Electric Mercedes-Benz coming in 2010

[veggihatetank]

I just read this in a auto news site and thought I'd pass it along.

Electric Mercedes-Benz coming in 2010



Unlike Audi and friends, Mercedes has actually had its eye on non-gasoline burning vehicles for some while. According to a recent interview, Daimler's chief executive was quoted as saying that an "electric Smart [was planned] for 2010," and he continued by asserting that an electric Mercedes model would be arriving "the same year." Sadly, he didn't budge when pushed for pricing details, but he did note that cost would depend greatly "on whether it sells the batteries or leases them." Heck, there was even a mention of a fuel cell car in 2010, but we'd prefer to keep our hopes and expectations well beneath the stratosphere.

[Lexxani]

leasing batteries. . .that must be one hella deep cycle. . .

[Larry Delor]

I wouldn't trust the insulation on the wiring.

[ILUVMILS]

I took this picture at the Fuel Cell Development facility in Germany last year. We were told that the cars could be ready for sale in the U.S. by 2014, if the infra-structure was in place to supply the hydrogen needed to fuel the vehicles. FWIW, I think the vehicle lift is pretty cool.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by ILUVMILS

I took this picture at the Fuel Cell Development facility in Germany last year. We were told that the cars could be ready for sale in the U.S. by 2014, if the infra-structure was in place to supply the hydrogen needed to fuel the vehicles. FWIW, I think the vehicle lift is pretty cool.

As soon as someone figures out how to make hydrogen cheap they will take over. The fueling stations are just a simple mechanical problem that the markets will quickly solve themselves.

[aklim]

What is the operation cost of this vehicle? How long before the US infrastructure is ready? How many people would feel comfortable with a hydrogen tank in the car? Not the crew from the Hindenburg, I would imagine.

[Hatterasguy]

The operating cost of a hydrogen fuel cell vehical would probably be damn near zero, since their are no moving parts, no trans, no rear axle. DC electric motors are known to last literaly forever, some will run for a hundred years.

Other than some air filters, brakes, and tires their really shouldn't be much else in the way of maintenance.

[TylerH860]

It really is about time. I doubt Rudolph Diesel and other engine designers would have believed their inventions would still be in use after 100 years.

[DieselAddict]

Originally Posted by aklim

What is the operation cost of this vehicle? How long before the US infrastructure is ready? How many people would feel comfortable with a hydrogen tank in the car? Not the crew from the Hindenburg, I would imagine.

The main point is that there's an electric vehicle coming from MB which doesn't really need any new infrastructure. You do have an electric outlet in your garage, don't you? Hydrogen is something else.

[MTI]

MB already has hydrogen powered commercial buses in service in Iceland, where they use geothermal electrical generation to produce the hydrogen.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

The main point is that there's an electric vehicle coming from MB which doesn't really need any new infrastructure. You do have an electric outlet in your garage, don't you? Hydrogen is something else.

I was responding to the hydrogen comment.

In any case, how long will it take to charge up this battery? I can fill up a tank in under 5 mins. Could we charge this sucker up that quickly or will it be just limited to being a car that is short distance commute only?

[ILUVMILS]

I think the hydrogen vs. electric issue will sort itself out as time goes on. The MB engineers I spoke with said since it still takes lots of electricity to produce hydrogen in large quantities, the problem of producing inexpensive and clean power must be solved before any significant progress can be made. Offshore wind-farming is said to be the cheapest solution, followed by more costly land-based wind farming, and solar power solutions.

In New Jersey, the subject of offshore wind farming has been discussed, but everyone from fisherman to beachfront property owners have managed to kill the idea. I guess they're worried that dozens of gigantic windmills close to shore will hurt the fishing industry, or have a negative impact on property values.

At some point, I think Americans will have to accept the idea of wind farming, in one form or another. Unfortunately, when that time comes, I fear that the rest of the world will be far ahead of the U.S. in terms of wind farming technology.

FWIW, MB has several fuel cell test vehicles in the U.S. now. I'm told there are several dozen in California, Michigan, and Texas. UPS also has a few "big brown" trucks powered by hydrogen as well.

[DieselAddict]

Originally Posted by ILUVMILS

The MB engineers I spoke with said since it still takes lots of electricity to produce hydrogen in large quantities

That's why I think plain electric cars are a better way to go than fuel cells. Instead of using electricity to generate hydrogen which is then converted back to electricity, why not use the electricity directly? The only reason I can think of is storage (I'm guessing fuel cells with a hydrogen tank have a larger capacity than even lithium-ion batteries), but I'd rather sacrifice some range than drive with a 10,000 psi tank under the backseat.

[DieselAddict]

Originally Posted by aklim

In any case, how long will it take to charge up this battery? I can fill up a tank in under 5 mins. Could we charge this sucker up that quickly or will it be just limited to being a car that is short distance commute only?

Charging from a household outlet would typically be done overnight. But fast-charging stations that could recharge the batteries in minutes supposedly do exist or are at least possible.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

Charging from a household outlet would typically be done overnight. But fast-charging stations that could recharge the batteries in minutes supposedly do exist or are at least possible.

If the infrastructure supports it and if it could be done with fast charging like I would fill up the gas, I could see it working. OTOH, if all they had were overnight charging then it wouldn't be doable.