Mercedes-Benz S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID can cut lifecycle CO2 by up to 56% compared to S 500

1 December 2014

Comparison of CO₂ emissions for the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID and the S 500 [t/car]. Source: TÜV SÜD. Click to enlarge.

The Mercedes-Benz S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID (earlier post) can cut CO₂ emissions by some 43% when recharged using the European electricity mix and by up to 56% when using hydroelectricity compared to the conventional S 500 model on a full lifecycle basis, according to the environmental certificate awarded by TÜV SÜD.

TÜV SÜD awarded the life cycle assessment environmental certificate in accordance with ISO TR (technical report) 14062. (ISO/TR 14062:2002 describes concepts and current practices relating to the integration of environmental aspects into product design and development, and is applicable to the development of sector-specific documents. It is not applicable as a specification for certification and registration purposes.)

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The award is based on a comprehensive assessment of the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID, taking into account ISO 14040 and 14044 regarding life cycle assessment (principles and general requirements, definition of goal scope, inventory analysis, life cycle impact assessment, interpretation, critical review) and ISO 14020 (environmental labels and declarations – general principles) and ISO 14021 (criteria for self-declared environmental claims.) The certificate documents the model’s environmental performance from development through to recycling, across the entire lifecycle. (All three hybrid S-Class models—S 400 HYBRID, S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID, and S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID—are covered in the TÜV SÜD document.)

Over the entire life cycle, comprising manufacture, use over 300,000 kilometers [186,411 miles] and recycling, clear advantages result compared with the S 500. External charging with the European electricity mix can cut CO₂ emissions by some 43 percent (35 tonnes). Through the use of renewably generated hydroelectricity a 56 percent reduction (46 tonnes) is possible.

The Mercedes-Benz S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID offers peak system output of 325 kW (436 hp) and 650 N·m (479 lb-ft) torque, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in a fast 5.2 seconds and can drive up to 33 km (20.5 miles) purely electrically. The certified consumption in Europe is 2.8 liters/100 km (84 mpg US)—lower than Mercedes initially suggested upon the vehicle’s unveiling in 2013—which corresponds to 65 g CO₂/km emissions. Key elements of this performance are the V6 biturbo and the intelligent hybrid drive.

The 3.0-liter V6 biturbo comes from the M276 engine family and features the BlueDIRECT injection and combustion system. The hybrid transmission is based on the 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission. The plug-in-hybrid system in the S-Class is based on the Mercedes-Benz parallel hybrid modular system. The common system-specific feature is the additional clutch integrated between combustion engine and electric motor. The 8.7 kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery can be externally recharged via the charging socket in the right-hand side of the rear bumper.

Plug-in hybrids offer our customers the best of both worlds; in the city they can drive in all-electric mode, while on long journeys they benefit from the combustion engine’s range. In addition, hybridization not only makes the combustion engine lighter, it also brings with it a special type of dynamic performance—making driving an absolute pleasure.

The new S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID is the spearhead of our hybrid strategy. It offers the power and performance of a V8, but runs on as little fuel as a compact model—and it is able to cover more than 30 km with zero emissions. The upshot is a unique combination of luxury, driving pleasure and environmental compatibility.

The plug-in will be offered as the S550 PLUG-IN HYBRID in the US—the first hybrid model in the US for the new S-Class.