Mercedes is adding new hybrid models.
Mercedes plans to add a new hybrid model each year from 2009 onward.
Mercedes-Benz plans on increasing hybrid sales to 20% of its total by 2015.
The goal reflects the current state of environmental requirements and customer demand, while positioning the brand to continue beyond the eventual end of the combustion engine.
The demise of the combustion engine is still a few years away but it won’t be a sudden event.
Mercedes is approaching this in a series of gradual steps,
Starting with current models.
Then to combustion/electric hybrids .
Then to diesel-hybrids, (such as the GLK BlueTEC)
Eventually adding the electric drivetrain models.
The plan is to increase the power, performance and range of the electric components in order to be able to replace the combustion side entirely.
Mercedes-Benz is planning to be the first major car manufacturer to market a lithium-ion battery-powered hybrid (the S400 Hybrid followed by the ML450 Hybrid in 2009) which will mark one of the beginning steps in the improvement of the electric portion of the hybrid drivetrain.
