0 Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment: New S-Class awarded Environmental Certificate

With three development priorities focusing on "Intelligent Drive", "Efficient Technology" and "Essence of Luxury", the new S-Class is broadening technical horizons at many levels. The S-Class sets new standards in terms of efficiency too. Its high environmental compatibility has now been confirmed by the neutral inspectors from the TÜV Süd technical inspection authority, who have awarded the Mercedes-Benz Saloon the Environmental Certificate in accordance with ISO standard TR 14062. The award is based on a comprehensive life-cycle assessment of the S-Class, documenting every detail of relevance for the environment.

"The new S-Class achieves consumption and emissions values that were little more than a dream just a few years ago, even for a mid-size car," explains Professor Dr Herbert Kohler, Chief Environmental Officer at Daimler AG. "In comparison with the predecessor series, consumption has been reduced by up to 20 percent, and all models lead their respective classes in terms of efficiency. The CO2 emissions of the S 400 HYBRID have been cut from 186 g CO2/km to 147 g CO2/km compared with the previous model."

Mercedes-Benz analyses the environmental compatibility of its models across their entire life cycle – from production through long years of service to end-of-life recycling. This analysis goes far beyond the legal requirements. The Environmental Certificate and supplementary information are made available to the public as part of the "Life Cycle" documentation series, which can be accessed at http://www.mercedes-benz.com . In 2005, the S-Class became the first-ever vehicle to be awarded the Environmental Certificate from TÜV Süd. This tradition is being successfully continued with the new 2013 S-Class.

All models comply with the EURO 6 emissions standard. The S 400 HYBRID and the S 350 BlueTEC additionally meet the strict criteria of efficiency class A, with the S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID even qualifying for class A+.

Wide range of hybrids, greater use of recycled materials

The fuel efficiency benefits of the new S-Class are ensured by an intelligent package of measures. These include optimisation of the drive system, energy management, aerodynamics, tyres, weight reductions through lightweight construction techniques and driver information to encourage an energy-saving driving style.

Hybrids represent a further milestone on the road to zero-emission mobility. With the new S-Class, Mercedes-Benz is expanding its line-up in this model series to three models: S 400 HYBRID, S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID and S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID. Common to all second-generation hybrid drives is their seamless integration into the powertrain. The engine can be completely decoupled from the electric motor. Further features are the second-generation recuperative braking system and the anticipatory Intelligent HYBRID energy management system.

Even though recycling is still a long way off for new S-Class models, the development process took account of all the requirements for environmentally compatible end-of-life recycling. In an effort already today to build up and develop the markets for recycled materials, increased use was made of such materials in the production of the new S-Class. In total, the new S-Class includes 51 components weighing a total of 49.7 kilograms that can be produced with the partial use of high-quality recycled plastics. The weight of secondary raw material components could thus be increased by 134 percent compared with the predecessor series.

There is also an increased emphasis on closed automobile materials cycles: the wheel arch linings, for example, are made from such materials as reprocessed bumper coverings. Some 87 S-Class components with a total weight of 46.1 kilograms are produced using natural materials. For instance, the coverings for the driver and front-passenger seat backrests are made of coconut fibre and wool.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Detail: Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment: New S-Class awarded Environmental Certificate

0 The CLA-Class receives its Environmental Certificate: CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition with emissions of only 118 g CO2 per kilometre

With optimum fuel consumption, emissions as low as 109 g CO2/km, and the world's best Cd value for a series production vehicle of 0.22, the CLA-Class sets new benchmarks in efficiency in the medium-size category. Its high environmental compatibility has now also been confirmed by the inspectors at the TÜV Süd technical inspection authority, who have awarded the four-door Coupé from Mercedes-Benz the Environmental Certificate in accordance with ISO standard TR 14062. This certification is based on a comprehensive life-cycle assessment of the CLA-Class, documenting every detail of relevance for the environment.

"Driving pleasure and efficiency need not be mutually exclusive. The same is equally true of breathtaking design and world-class aerodynamic drag values. In all four areas the CLA-Class sets the benchmark in the medium-size category", explains Professor Dr Herbert Kohler, Chief Environmental Officer at Daimler AG.

Mercedes-Benz analyses the environmental compatibility of its models throughout their entire life cycle – from production, through their long years of service, to recycling at the end of their lives. This analysis goes far beyond the legal requirements. The Environmental Certificate and supplementary information are made available to the public as part of the "Life Cycle" documentation series, which can be accessed at http://www.mercedes-benz.com.

Over the entire life cycle of the Mercedes CLA-Class – from production and utilisation over 160,000 kilometres through to recycling – the base variant certified by TÜV in the guise of the CLA 180 gives rise to CO2 emissions of around 30 tonnes, which is on a par with the exemplary A-Class.

With a Cd value of 0.23, the CLA 180 sets a new benchmark.

The drag area Cd x A – which is crucial in terms of wind resistance – also leads the field, at 0.51 m2. The good air flow characteristics, which are a major contributory factor to the vehicle's low fuel consumption in everyday conditions, result from numerous aerodynamic optimisation measures. These include a low A-pillar shoulder with adapted A-pillar geometry, aerodynamically optimised exterior mirror housings and rear shape, optimised diffuser, optimised underbody and rear axle panelling, radiator shutter, aero wheel trims and serrated wheel spoilers on the front and rear wheel arches. The CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition, which is due to hit the streets in September, even manages to better this value with a Cd value of 0.22, and when it comes to the drag area the four-door coupé crosses a magical line with a figure of just 0.49 m².

Other measures applied to the CLA-Class to reduce consumption include:

- For all petrol and diesel powertrains: friction-optimised downsized engines with turbocharging, direct injection and thermal management; petrol engines with Camtronic (CLA 180 and CLA 200).

- Friction-optimised 6-speed manual transmission and 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, both featuring high-geared configurations.

- The start/stop system as standard for all engine variants.

- Use of tyres with optimised rolling resistance.

- Wheel bearings with substantially reduced friction.

- Weight optimisation through the use of lightweight materials.

- Regulated fuel and oil pump are able to adjust pump output according to required load.

- Intelligent generator management in conjunction with an efficient generator ensures that consumers are powered from the battery during acceleration, while during braking part of the resulting energy is recuperated and fed back into the battery.

- Highly efficient air conditioning compressor with optimised oil management, reduced displacement and magnetic clutch which avoids friction losses.

- Optimised belt drive with decoupler.

The CLA-Class already currently meets the recoverability rate of 95 percent by weight, which becomes effective from 2015. The European ELV Directive 2000/53/EC additionally requires vehicle manufacturers to continually increase the input of recycled materials in their production processes. In all, the new CLA-Class incorporates 42 components representing a total weight of 30.8 kilograms which can be produced with the partial use of high-quality recycled plastics.

There is also an increased emphasis on closed automobile materials cycles: the wheel arch linings, for example, are made from reprocessed starter batteries and bumper coverings.

Some 16 components in the CLA-Class, representing a total weight of 19 kilograms, are produced using natural materials. A biopolymer is being used in the engine cover on the new CLA-Class (M 270 petrol engine). Biopolymers are plastics which are produced in part from vegetable-based raw materials rather than solely from mineral oil. The polyamide employed in the production of the engine cover for the CLA-Class consists of around 70 percent vegetable raw materials. These are obtained from the seeds of the castor-oil plant. Production of the engine cover made of biopolyamide results in only around 40 percent of the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions which would be necessary in order to produce the same component in a conventional polyamide.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Detail: The CLA-Class receives its Environmental Certificate: CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition with emissions of only 118 g CO2 per kilometre