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CM gets to drive Mercedes' Sprinter plug-in hybrid
Page 14
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By Colin Barnett
DEVELOPMENT of MercedesBenz' Sprinter plug-in hybrid van has reached the point where we were able to drive it around the port of Hamburg last week.
Compared with the Toyota Prius — the most familiar benchmark hybrid vehicle — the Sprinter features a simplified driveline, but adds the ability to be plugged in to a mains supply to give a full charge at the start of day.
A conventional engine (a V6 petrol powerplant in this case, since the initial batch are heading for the US, but any of the current engine range can be used) drives through a combined electric motor/generator, where the flywheel would normally be. This contributes a sustained 56hp and 182Nm, with 95hp and 280Nm available for short periods.
All drive, electric or engine, then goes through a conventional torque converter and five-speed epicyclic automatic gearbox to power the rear wheels.
The 14kWh of lithium-ion batteries are mounted underfloor behind the rear axle: this does not impinge on loadspace, and, Mercedes claims, reduces payload only slightly.
The driver has the option of two switchable modes — combined electric and engine drive for general operation or fully electric drive for sensitive areas. Under electric power, it has a range of around 30km; in combined mode, tests have seen a 40% improvement in fuel economy.
From a driving perspective, the hybrid Sprinter is no different to a familiar automatic, apart from the silence when running under electricity. Even without the engine, low-speed acceleration is lively enough to satisfy normal needs.
The new technology is now virtually production-ready, although pricing issues mean it's likely to be at least two years before it will be introduced to European markets.
Of this batch of customer-trial Sprinters, 11 are destined for a selection of US cities, with another two staying in Germany.