Investors and executives at Daimler AG are understandably excited at the automaker’s lineup ready for display at the International Commercial Vehicle show. This show takes place at the end of September 2008 in Hanover, Germany and Daimler AG is using the autumn event to take the next step toward fuel efficiency. Daimler’s representatives will be educating attendees on the Actros line of construction vehicles as well as the BlueTec and Vito hybrids.
The biggest buzz among Daimler’s 80-vehicle show fleet surrounds the Actros line of construction vehicles. The newly constituted Actros construction line is making its first appearance in public at the ICV show and should impress building professionals who are interested in fuel-efficient machinery. The highlight of this line is the new version of the Actros truck, which uses the PowerShift 2 transmission as well as a feedback-controlled pump to conserve electricity. Daimler’s efforts at gaining a foothold into such a small niche as fuel-efficient construction machinery should be indicative of the automaker’s foresight.
There are two versions of the BlueTec hybrid that Daimler will present in Hanover. The Mercedes-Benz Azor BlueTec is a long-range truck that will be sent out on trials throughout Europe in 2009. This truck will use a parallel-hybrid drive train that is supposed to improve fuel efficiency over similar trucks by at least 6%. The Econic BlueTec is a truck powered by a 286-horsepower diesel engine that will also run on Daimler’s parallel hybrid system.
The Vito mild-hybrid van is a good example of Daimler’s effort to revolutionize traditional vehicles without committing to all-electric, hydrogen and natural gas vehicles. The Vito van will compare favorably in terms of gas mileage to comparable vans due to an efficient six-speed transmission as well as a streamlined body.This hybrid seems likely to gain popularity among European shipping companies and taxi services that want to cut down on fuel costs.
Daimler’s cherry on the sundae will be its presentation of new research and sketches for the Econic NGT hybrid truck. This vehicle is drawing acclaim from industry experts who like the inventiveness of using a natural gas engine along with an electric motor. The benefit of the NGT hybrid truck pictured above may not be its commercial appeal but the fact that it will shake its competitors out of stodgy thinking about vehicle drive trains.
