The head of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, was in the house at the Always On Going Green conference giving a talk yesterday and had lots to say about possible upcoming products from his company. First off, in contradiction to what we heard earlier from Tesla marketing guy, Daryl Siry, there may very well be an SUV in the pipeline. Although it might seem antithetical to the green agenda Musk espouses, he believes it would be a strong driver of sales. Of course, his idea of an SUV might be closer in size to a Captiva than a full-blown Tahoe but we guess we'll have to wait for an actual sketch before we make too many assumptions. We suspect he hasn't gotten the memo that the stationwagon is the new SUV though. If an SUV EV does come to fruition it would be built on the Model S platform most likely at it new factory in San Jose.

While talking about making cars less expensive in the future, he let slip that they are "confident in being able to get to a $30,000 car, or perhaps a $20,000 car, in partnership with a major car company," sometime in the future. Whether or not that major car company is Daimler is unknown but in a phone conversation with Earth2Tech, Mr. Musk said that "Tesla's partnership with Daimler won't focus on its Model S".

Speaking of the Model S, Musk said that the as-yet-unseen luxury sedan would feature a swappable battery. Not that they plan on jumping into bed with Better Place but having that function would make the vehicle easier to service. Of course, it also leaves the door open to some future battery-swapping-station scheme. We hope it also has the ability to accept a quick charge.

[Source: Earth2Tech / greentechmedia]

Daimler and its Japanese affiliate Mitsubishi Fuso have opened a new global hybrid truck development center in Kawasaki, Japan. The center will be the world wide center for developing hybrid systems for commercial vehicles. Engineering teams at various regional centers around the world will coordinate their efforts through the new center. Mr. Fumio Akikawa, who is currently Director of Powertrain Development for Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, will head up the hybrid center. Mitsubishi Fuso has been working on hybrid trucks for a decade and already has several hybrid trucks on the market in Japan. The Daimler press release is after the jump.

[Source: Daimler]

To manage all of the green-flavored activities going on at Daimler, the company announced today that it has created a "Sustainability Board" at the upper management levels. This new board will be responsible for coordinating all of the "sustainability measures" (in the economy, ecology and society realms) at Daimler Group. Dr. Rüdiger Grube, Board of Management member of Daimler AG responsible for Group Development and Corporate Strategy, will lead the new board.

Daimler is also presenting a sustainability report called "360 Degrees" at the Magdeburg Environmental Forum (happening today and tomorrow) which highlights Daimler's sustainability and efficiency efforts. Let's see, do you think it mentions the BLUETEC SUVs and Mercedes' driver to purge gasoline from its lineup by 2015? Yes, yes it does. How about the Orion hybrid buses and more fuel cell news? Check.

[Source: Daimler]

We recently confirmed the rumor that, yes, Mercedes is planning on building an electric car or two and now some of the details are starting to be firmed up. In an interview with German business daily, WirtschaftsWoche, Thomas Weber, a Mercedes board member responsible for research and vehicle development, let it be known that the company is building what was originally meant to be the fuel cell-powered A-Class (and possibly B-Class) as an all-electric model. Because of its "sandwich" construction and pre-existing electric drivetrain, these cars should be the first to join the electric Smart in the e-Mercedes lineup.

Another magazine, Automobilwoche, as well as reporting 2010 as the year of the e-Mercedes arrival, states that the supplier of the battery for the cars would be none other than the American firm Tesla Motors. The source of their information was not revealed and since this has not been officially stated by either company, it's still somewhat speculative. We know from talking with Tesla's Elon Musk that something is going on between them and Mercedes and it's definitely not a motor for the Whitestar, since Musk made it clear that Tesla products will remain gasoline-free. We also know that Daimler claims to have solved the thermal issues associated with lithium ion batteries of a certain chemistry by integrating battery cooling systems with that of the car. Then again, Continental has already been named a battery supplier for the Mercedes S 400 hybrid. If you care to enter into the supplier speculation sweepstakes, hit us up in the comments section.

Source: WirtschaftsWoche / Wall Street Journal]

Mercedes F700 concept

Mercedes is not slacking when it comes to building concepts and releasing cleaner vehicles. But, in a fairly standard automotive move these days, while the engineers are working, the executives are complaining about patchworks. Speaking in Switzerland, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said that the variety of environmental regulations around the world are a big challenge to his company and all automakers. Automotive News (subs req'd) cites the EU's goal of having new vehicles meet a 120 g/km limit of CO₂ while the U.S. is focusing its laws on fuel economy. Zetsche described the situation this way: "Our engineers sometimes feel as if they are forced to play European soccer on an American baseball diamond by Japanese sumo wrestling rules." Zetsche singled out moving targets and different attribute qualifications as problems areas. "We're not fighting against environmental regulations. Our ultimate goal is emission-free driving. It's just that this 'patchwork quilt' of regulations doesn't necessarily support us in getting there," he said. Of course, Zetsche's argument would be a lot more convincing if global automakers didn't already sell different vehicles in different markets. They've been working within a patchwork for decades, sometimes one of their own design.

[Source: Automotive News, (subs req'd)]

Daimler's 36 hydrogen fuel cell buses, including some that were used in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and since then used as public transportation vehicles in Berlin, have now driven more than two million kilometers (about 1.24m miles) in daily driving. 30 buses were in Europe and there were three each in Perth, Australia and Beijing, China. Daimler says that the buses are proof that its fuel cell tech (also available in cars, of course) has "proved its worth in different climatic regions." The buses - which have moved over seven million passengers during 135,000 operating hours since 2003 - operated throughout Europe, from Sweden to Spain. The European buses are known as HyFLEET:CUTE (Hydrogen Fleet Clean Urban Transport for Europe) and are all being monitored so Daimler knows how to make better hydrogen fuel cell systems in the future. More details after the jump.

GM isn't the only one ready for a lot of hydrogen fuel cell cars. Daimler chairman Dieter "Dr. Z" Zetsche believes that the technology for fuel cell vehicles is here today and that vehicles using the hydrogen-for-energy system will be available in five to eight years time. Zetsche also believes that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will compare favorably with their competition, which we assume means other alternative powertrains like full-electrics and hybrids. One reason he cites as a fuel cell benefit over electric cars is range, suggesting that hydrogen electrics could travel 300 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. One unanswered question, though, is how far will pure electrics be able to go on a single charge in five to eight years time. Still, by refilling a hydrogen tank, the driver gets another 300 miles while it will likely take another full charge for the electric car. Zetsche recognizes that a potential problem area exists regarding the infrastructure that a hydrogen fueling system would require. We remain intrigued by the technology, but recognize that major advancements must be made before jumping on the fuel cell bandwagon. We also believe that other extended-range electric vehicle technologies will allow for many of the same benefits as hydrogen fuel cells.

[Source: Just-Auto (sub. req'd.)]

We've been hearing about electric Smart cars for ages now and although some have been made and even test driven, these EVs haven't seemed to have the full weight of Daimler AG behind them. Of course, considering they are headed by CEO Dieter Zetsche who was once quoted as saying, "buyers don't really want electric cars," it's little wonder. Thankfully, the tide may be turning.

According to USA Today, Mercedes-Benz says it will have a demonstration fleet of practical, if small, electric vehicles on the road in two to three years." No, these have nothing to do with the 100 Smart eds being shipped to Britain with the Zebra sodium-nickel chloride battery. It seems these babies will be equipped with modern lithium ion batteries Mercedes has described as "breakthrough".

One of the reasons given by Vice President Herbert Kohler for building this Smart flotilla, according to the article, is "to be sure the setup is right for mass production." Whoa! For a minute there I thought he said something about mass producing electric Smart cars. Hopefully, it won't take the electric Smarts ten years to reach America like the gas version.




[Source: USA Today]

click photo to enlarge

Testing fuel cell vehicles is all the rage these days, and Mercedes isn't missing out on the action. The latest hydrogen vehicle tests from the three-pointed star company took place in wintery Sweden. Wouldn't want to coddle a car or anything.

Daimler recently took a B-Class hydrogen car using an optimized fuel-cell system based on the stack in the F 600 HYGENIUS from 2005 through its paces. According to the company, the vehicle worked well in some real world cold situations, was able to hold the road, and in general passed the tests "with flying colours." The road handling issue is extra important, Daimler says, because electric motors (in this case, powered by the fuel cell) don't govern speed the same way as traditional ICEs. Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler AG board member with responsibility for Research and Development at Mercedes Benz Cars, said the tests showed the drive concept is on the right track. More tests will be done on the fuel cell B-Class in the coming months in preparation for small-series production in 2010. Read more from Daimler after the break

We all know that ICEs don't run without oil. While the best time to change your oil varies from driver to driver, car to car and season to season, the truth is that you don't want to be too late or, if you're thinking about the environment or the pocketbook, too early.

So, Daimler's announcement today of a special sensor that can directly monitor the quality of the engine's motor oil is good news. This oil is monitored by an AC potential that is applied between the interior and exterior pipes of the oil-filled sensor. The sensor can then keep the driver informed if the oil needs changing and safely increase time between oil changes by about 25 percent. While the announcement (available after the jump) doesn't specify which vehicles the sensor will be installed in, it does mention commercial vehicles, where more oil is used per change and downtime often has a higher cost to the owner.

Interest in Daimler AG's diesel-electric hybrid buses is strong, the company announced this week. Over one thousand (1,052 to be exact) orders for the Orion VII hybrid buses have been placed, and Daimler says it will have these orders filled by 2010. Since the Orion hybrid bus was launched in 2003, Daimler says, over 2,600 orders have been placed.

We all know that city buses transport people through some of the most densely populated areas on the planet, so reducing some of the emissions that come from stop-and-go driving and idling is hugely important. Biodiesel does a good job of lowering emissions, but hybrid technology goes a long way as well. Daimler says that:

Compared to standard diesel propulsion, these hybrid buses deliver up to 30 percent better fuel economy while greatly reducing emissions: 90 percent less particulate matter, 40 percent less NOx and 30 percent fewer greenhouse gases. Drivers and riders enjoy a quieter, cleaner and smoother ride. (more after the jump)

Most of the Orion hybrids use lithium-ion batteries and capture some energy through regenerative breaking.

Just two municipalities are responsible for the big order:
MTA New York City Transit has ordered 850 and the City of Ottawa (OC Transpo) wants 202. Once Daimler delivers all these buses, MTA will have almost 1,700 diesel-electric hybrid buses, which Daimler says will be the largest diesel-electric hybrid fleet in the world.

Related:

• From Lead Acid to Lithium Ion on the Orion Hybrid Bus Battery Pack
• Daimler shows 16 eco-friendly trucks and buses

[Source: Daimler AG]

Daimler earned 23 "distinctions" with its Mercedes-Benz and smart brands at this year's Michelin Challenge Bibendum and, with that, is calling itself the "most successful participant" at the event. Daimler entered seven vehicles in the contest in a field of around 80. Some of the brand's highlights include:

• The Mercedes-Benz E 300 Bluetec took ifirst place in the 170-kilometer production car rally and was noticed for it's acceleration, maneuverability and local pollutants.
• The Mercedes-Benz A-Class F-Cell, the smart fortwo cdi, the Mercedes-Benz F 600 and the Mercedes-Benz E 200 NGT were all noted for having low CO₂ emissions (tank-to-tire).

There's more after the jump.

Related:

• Renault Logan emits just 71 grams of CO₂ per km in Challenge Bibendum

[Source: Daimler AG]

Ballard says they have finalized the rumored deal to sell their auto fuel cell unit, called Burnaby, which includes 113 employees (20 percent of the company's workforce). Ballard will sell the unit to Ford and Daimler for a swap of 34.3 million Ballard shares, worth $168 million and a new company will be formed. As we mentioned earlier today, the new auto fuel cell company will be owned 50.1 percent owned by Daimler, 30 percent by Ford and 19.9 percent by Ballard. Ford and Daimler will invest $60 million in the company with another $60 million investment from Ballard.

In the video above, Ballard president and CEO John Sheridan talks about shifting Ballard's focus from fuel cell for cars to back-up electricity systems, residential co-generation power supply and forklifts. Sheridan says fuel cells for cars are far out in the future and will cost a lot. In the video John is asked "does this mean the fuel cell vehicle dream is over?" John says "no, not at all. The fuel cell dream is very much alive and I think it's going to be a key part of all our futures." John continues, saying again that it's going to take a lot of money and time, like 8 to 12 years.

[Source: Bloomberg, YouTube]

Ballard Power Systems, one of the larger fuel cell companies, confirmed rumors they are in talks to sell their automotive fuel cell assets to Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company. Ballard says the negotiations are not complete or assured but Daimler already owns 18.7 percent of Ballard and Ford owns another 11.2 percent; the stock jumped 18 percent Monday.

Why are they selling? Ballard says the reason is "lengthy projected timeline to commercialization and high cost of development." A statement like that coming from a major fuel cell company just may mean the end of politicians standing in front of fuel cell cars talking about a hydrogen future.

Related:

• Ballard selling electric drive operations to Siemens VDO

[Source: Ballard Power Systems via Reuters]