ecogeek.org — In less than 7 years, Mercedes-Benz plans to ditch petroleum-powered vehicles from its lineup. Focusing on electric, fuel cell, and biofuels, the company is revving up research in alternative fuel sources and efficiency.
Jun 26, 2008 View in Crawl 4
alapoetJun 26, 2008
Way to go, Mercedes!
flashingcurserJun 27, 2008
I hate to interrupt this love fest with facts. I know digg me down, we don't like facts here.Internal combustion engines top out at 37% thermal efficiencyTypically 20-25% for most non-hybrid cars.Prius is about 31%A diesel averages about 40-45%Hybrid diesels could top out at 55% <a class="user" href="http://lostcoasttrading.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2309">http://lostcoasttrading.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2 ...</a>The typical coal fired power plant is about 31% efficient. <a class="user" href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_energy_effic">http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_energy_effic</a> ...I'm confused. How is 55% less than 31%? Yes you can find coal fired plants built around the world that are much more efficient. They are simply not the reality today. 30 years from now who knows. This doesn't even begin to address that coal fired plants are horrid polluters beyond CO2. (CO2 is not technically a pollutant) Sulfur, fly ash, NOX, ozone, particulates (more per unit of energy than diesel), and they use huge amounts of water that ends up polluted. If you retrofit scrubbers to these plants you loose even more of the 31%Side note to this conversation: There is loss of energy transporting fossil fuels. You have to pump it out of the ground, transport it, refined it, then transport it again. However on the same note there is loss of energy in resistance in our power grid. Each power station, transformer, (comparatively) low voltage wiring to your electrical service, and then again the wiring in your home. Not only that, electricity cannot be stored so off-peak loads loose a great deal more efficiency. If powered by coal you still have to transport the coal, though this is probably a very small percent as most of it travels by rail. I'm going to call each a wash, though I could be wrong. I couldn't find any good info comparing the two. I'm also assuming that the resistance of tires to road surfaces is about the same and wheel bearing are similar.
starbuxadctJun 27, 2008
lol. I'd love to find a Mercedes for 38k... my fully loaded Toyota Camry Hybrid cost about that much. That would be a steal!!Also, just because I can already afford a hybrid, doesn't mean I agree that it is the best technology out there, and that it shouldn't be replaced by something that doesn't run on gasoline.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2008
It is good to see a manufacturer who is attempting to totally revolutionize the way we drive. The worlds dependency on oil is catastrophic. All the car companies are trying to put a bandaid on the problem.
skyflyerkeJul 20, 2008
A 100% green car will be TOP!!!Now I drive half green :-)I drive half on Biodiesel...<a class="user" href="http://www.biodiesel-info.net">http://www.biodiesel-info.net</a>
gonetill5Jul 26, 2008
umm... these companies are all talk. years ago the promised the same thing i believe, or something to that affect. i'll stick with goss132 thanks
qwertykidNov 30, 2008
Glad to hear it.<a class="user" href="http://www.watchdexter.tv">http://www.watchdexter.tv</a><a class="user" href="http://www.watchbones.tv">http://www.watchbones.tv</a>
gramajDec 14, 2008
Very Good My Man! <a class="user" href="http://www.seksihatunlar.net">http://www.seksihatunlar.net</a><a class="user" href="http://www.ayyildizturk.org">http://www.ayyildizturk.org</a>