Benz Boasts Battery Breakthrough

Daimler AG has achieved what they are calling a breakthrough in battery technology.
The Stuttgart-based automaker has adapted lithium-ion technology to the demanding requirements of automotive applications.
Until now, the technology has been used primarily in consumer electronics.
The new battery will be used in the series-production S 400 BlueHYBRID beginning next year. Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler AG Board of Management and responsible for group research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, says:
“What we have here is a groundbreaking key technology that is going to be a decisive factor for the future success of the automotive industry.”
The engineers’ success is above all a result of the integration of the lithium-ion battery into the vehicle’s climate control system.
This ensures that the battery always works at optimal system temperatures of between 15 and 35 degrees C, which in turn makes it possible for the battery to provide long service life and maximum performance.
The main advantages offered by the newly developed lithium-ion battery are its very compact dimensions and its performance compared to conventional nickel-metal hydride batteries. The weight/power ratio of the entire battery is 1,900 watts per liter (W/L).
What’s more, the battery stands out by virtue of its high ampere-hour efficiency, long service life, and great reliability, even at very low temperatures.