Test Drive a Mercedes-Benz Vito E-Cell at the Post Expo

The most innovative products are being showcased at the Stuttgart Exhibition Center from September 27 to September, tagged as Post Expo, people who are there had the chance to road test the Vito E-Cell.

Stuttgart – The Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL is making its mark thanks to an innovative concept and high-performance drive system. A fully functioning van for everyday applications, it has a maximum payload of around 900kg and a load compartment with no restrictions on use. This means it can assume all the usual transportation duties of a vehicle in its class and makes it an ideal choice for courier and parcel services.

Post Expo held for the first time in Stuttgart

Last year, the Vito E-CELL wowed experts at the Post Expo in Copenhagen, picking up the ‘Innovation of the Year Award’ as a transport for courier and parcel services.

The Post Expo is a major international trade fair for the logistics industry that takes place every year in a different location.

This year, the most innovative and cutting-edge logistics solutions can be seen at Stuttgart Exhibition Centre from 27 to 29 September. Mercedes-Benz is offering exclusive road tests in the Vito E-CELL so that potential customers can experience this pioneering technology at first hand.

Several package delivery companies have already included the Vito E-CELL in their fleets in Germany and are delighted with its performance.

State-of-the art drive technology, high-performance lithium-ion battery

The Vito E-CELL’s powerful, high-tech batteries are located in the underfloor unit, and so do not take up valuable load space. They have a combined capacity of 36 kWh, which is sufficient for a range of around 130 kilometres. The electric motor powering the Vito E-CELL has an output of 60 kW, with 280 Nm of torque. And because electric motors are able to deliver full torque right from the start, the Vito E-CELL can pick up speed incredibly quickly. The maximum speed is capped at 80 km/h in view of the vehicle’s typical applications and maximum range.

Vito E-CELL: electric drive for quiet, local zero-emission driving

The zero-emission drive system of the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL, the first purely electric-powered van to be introduced ex works by any automobile manufacturer, makes it ideally suited to logistics applications in city centres and other environmentally sensitive areas.

The first Vito E-CELL vans have already been handed over to customers: by the end of 2010, a total of 100 had been delivered in Berlin and Stuttgart, and plans are in place for the staggered delivery of a further 2000 units across Europe. Providing a range of approximately 130 kilometres, the Vito E-CELL is capable of meeting typical customer requirements for vans making frequent short journeys. The load space can be used without any restrictions whatsoever, and with a maximum payload of around 900kg, the Vito E-CELL really is a fully functioning van for courier, express and parcel services.

High-capacity lithium-ion drive batteries

The batteries housed under the loading floor are durable, high-performance lithium-ion units. Thanks to intelligent technology, the charging times can be specified in accordance with how the vehicle is used. This means each Vito E-CELL can be charged at precisely those times when energy providers supply ‘green’ power or off-peak electricity. The batteries are also charged while driving through regenerative braking, which converts the vehicle’s braking energy into electricity.

Source: Daimler Media Site

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Stuttgart Airport's Follow Me Vehicle is a Mercedes-Benz B-Class

Yes, the Stuttgart Airport 'employed' the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell model as the “follow me” car for the planes taxiing the runways.

The airport and the company really prepared for this project as the set-up dedicated hydrogen refueling stations in the airport so even if the F-Cell only has a range of 400KM, getting it pumped is not a problem.

The car is a very environment-friendly vehicle as its 136HP electric motor is run by a hydro/oxygen chemical, this in turn create a byproduct which is water.

“As you can see, we are keeping up with the latest technological developments in ground-based drive systems.” said States Walter Schoefer, MD of airport manager Flughafen Stuttgart. This is a great start as other businesses can also see the value of having this Earth-friendly car, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell.

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Mercedes-Benz USA Reported Sales Increase of 5.9% Last Month

Mercedes-Benz USA is on a high as they reported sales of 20,306 vehicles, 5.9% increase from May 2010 figures.

The top car is the E-Class 9th generation with 5,751, a 5% increase over May 2010. C-Class is on the second with 4,936 and the third spot was taken by the GLK-Class with a 22.1% increase from last year. And although the R-Class crossover is not on the top three most number of sold vehicles, it garnered a 237% raise over May 2010 numbers.

The sales of Mercedes- Benz diesel lines increased at 108.5% for the month and 115.8% for the year. Sprinter vans increased by 126.1% for the month and 102.1% for the year. The high-end, SLS AMG had good 21 sales which means the YTD sales are up to 330.

All these numbers tally to give Mercedes-Benz USA a whooping 8.5% of increase year-to-date.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

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Hydrogen Refueling Stations will be Set-up by Mercedes and Linde Group

For quite some time since late last year, there has been talks about The Linde Group who is providing the fuel for the B-Class F-Cell cars for the World Drive. After the tour’s conclusion last week, the company finally confirmed the reports and they even went further the partnership saying they will put up the hydrogen fuel stations in Germany. They will start with 20 stations, targeting Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart. Mercedes-Benz said there will be two more cities but they will announce it later.

Mercedes- Benz and Linde said in a press statement that, “Germany clearly leads the way in Europe. To begin with, just five to ten filling stations are sufficient for conveniently servicing the requirements of a large city. Joining up these urban centres – for example Berlin with Hamburg, Stuttgart with Munich – by means of corridors along the arterial roads between them is a major step forward towards the establishment of a nationwide public H2 infrastructure.”

Clearly, Mercedes-Benz/Daimler is highly committed in the success of commercialization of F-Cell powered cars.

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F-Cell World Drive Almost Finished

Today will be the end of 2011 Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive. The tour is scheduled to reach its finish line in Stuttgart today at 3pm.

We have reported about some problems that one of the three green cars has a problem in Kazakhstan in the middle of May but they still managed to advance to the other legs of the tour.

Below is the path that the F-Cell World Drive our last update:

Leg 24 : Moscow to St. Petersburg - started on May 20. But a day before they took off, local media tested the F-Cell cars.

Leg 25: St.Petersburg to Helsinki - shortest leg of the tour with only 450 kilometers. Then from Helsinki they traveled to Stockholm via ferry.

Leg 26: Stockholm to Oslo - tour took 550 kilometers. The people in Oslo are said to be interested in the F-Cell technology thus they plan on releasing this in Norway after Germany and USA market.

Leg 27: Oslo to Hamburg - media also had the chance to test and experience the technology.

For those who does not know what F-Cell World Drive is, it is a tour that promotes the B-Class F-Cell powered electric cars, which are environment-friendly vehicles. These cars are envisioned to reign the roads, which will eliminate carbon dioxide emissions.

Source: EMercedesBenz

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