Mercedes-Benz adds LPG dual fuel Sprinter variant to line-up

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Mercedes-Benz has added a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Sprinter dual fuel variant to the line-up: the Sprinter 316 LGT (Liquefied Gas Technology). Models begin production this month. Certified to Euro 5 standard, the Sprinter 216 LGT features s four-cylinder, 1.8-liter gasoline engine designed to run on LPG (also called autogas).

The particulate emissions of LGT engines are virtually zero, while emissions of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, as well as sulphur dioxide, are significantly reduced in comparison with diesel engines. Compared with gasoline engines, CO₂ emissions are about 20% lower, along with the lower carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and sulphur dioxide emissions.

Along with the standard 100-liter (26 gallons US) gasoline tank, the Sprinter 316 LGT with 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight is fitted with an LPG tank with a capacity of 76 liters (20 gallons), located underneath the vehicle towards the frame end. Due to this method of installation, the load carrying capacity of the van is not restricted at all.

The 115 kW (156 hp) supercharged engine with a maximum torque of 240 N·m at 3000-4000 rpm generally starts in gasoline mode. If LPG mode is selected, the vehicle will automatically switch to gas operation as soon as the necessary cooling-water temperature of around 45 ° Celsius has been reached. Once the gas tank is empty, it will then again automatically switch back to gasoline mode.

The driver can however also decide whether to direct fuel to the engine from the gasoline or the LPG tank, and can change operating mode even while on the move via a push-button switch. The driver can also check the level of the LPG tank on an LED display on the instrument panel. The maximum range of the Sprinter 316 LGT is around 1,200 kilometers (746 miles); up to 450 kilometers (280 miles) can be covered in gas mode.

The gas connection is located above the gasoline filler neck, behind the fuel filler flap. Depending on the pressure used at the filling station, filling the LPG tank takes about as long as filling a tank with petrol or diesel. Unlike natural gas, the liquefied gas does not have to be highly compressed. The propane-butane mixture liquefies at a pressure of just two to eight bar and can be stored in the tank in this form. The connection point on the vehicle is fitted with a European ACME screw cap. Dish and bayonet adapters for use at Italian and Dutch filling stations respectively are supplied in the glove compartment. This means that the three tank connection systems to be found across Europe can all be used.

The Sprinter 316 LGT therefore not only meets the specific safety standards that apply to vehicles running on liquefied petroleum gas, but has also successfully passed a comprehensive range of in-house tests. Every time the vehicle starts, the engine control systems checks the LPG fuel system for leaks.

The Sprinter 316 LGT is available in various versions: panel van, crewbus, chassis-cab and crewcab, in each case with a wheelbase of either 3665 or 4325 mm. Whichever model is chosen, the price for conversion to LPG operation is €2,538 (US$3,600).

Source: Green Car Congress

Germany Awards Daimler 9 Million Euros to Develop Mercedes-Benz Electric Delivery Vans

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van









Mercedes-Benz's Van unit will utilize 9 million Euros ($13.46 million dollars) to produce 50 all-electric Sprinter vans that are to be deployed as delivery vehicles. Some quick mathematics shows that the company can spend more than $2 million dollars per van. That is more than a fuel cell car or even SUV (Equinox). These should be special vans indeed.

Urban delivery vans are ideal and well suited for all-electric applications. Instead of sitting and idling while the delivery is made, the van be completely turned off. With a range of 50 to 80 miles, there is plenty of range as well. Here at Alt Energy Autos, we also believe that the USPS could benefit tremendously from the deployment of electric fleet vehicles. UPS and FedEx are already working on electric versions of their respective fleet trucks and they can be a major force in moving the world's fleet away from oil fired drive trains.

From edmunds.com:

Anticipating a payoff in cleaner city air and a lowering of national CO2 emissions, the German environmental ministry is awarding automaker Daimler a grant of up to 9 million euros ($13.46 million) to subsidize development of an all-electric version of its Sprinter commercial van.

Up to 50 of the electric vans will be produced by the Mercedes-Benz Van unit and delivered to customers in environmentally sensitive inner city areas for real-world testing.

Because they travel relatively short distances and spend a lot of time idling while cargo is being unloaded and delivered, commercial vans are an ideal platform for electrification.

They benefit from electric drive systems' powerful torque; don't suffer from the need to be recharged after 50-80 miles of driving and improve both air and environmental noise quality with their zero emissions, near-silent motors.

In the U.S., Ford Motor Co. has said it will begin selling an all-electric version of its Transit Connect small van next year, and Chrysler has promised an electric version of controlling shareholder Fiat's Doblo small van in 2011 - to be sold under the Ram brand.

There also are a number of independent electric van and truck companies and converters in the U.S., including Smith Electric Vehicles U.S., EVI and Azure Dynamics.

Mercedes said the grant will help develop the drive and energy management systems and the vans' regenerative braking energy recapture capabilities and perfect thermal control of the vans' lithium-ion battery packs.

The automaker intends to begin delivering the test vans next year and said it hopes to be able to migrate the electric drive system to other van models in its lineup.