New Zealand is rapidly moving towards an electrified automotive future. As we welcome this new automotive era, drivers are spoiled for choice when they hit the road with both electric vehicles and hybrid models on offer. Here, we take a look at the Mercedes-Benz hybrid range and highlight the ease of driving a vehicle that combines a combustion engine accompanied by an electric motor.

What is a hybrid car?

A hybrid car retains an internal combustion engine (ICE), assisted by an additional battery and one or more electric motor/generators. Mercedes-Benz has successfully deployed two different types of hybrid technologies. The first is the mild hybrid drive and the second is the plug-in hybrid.

These different types of hybrid electric vehicles give customers the option to choose the technology that best suits their needs, with benefits over a standard ICE vehicle, including enhanced performance, better fuel consumption and lower emissions.

Mild hybrid drive in action

Mild hybrid drive models feature a combustion engine accompanied by an electric motor that delivers improved vehicle performance, reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions. Electric assistance is typically delivered when the vehicle is accelerating, which represents one of the highest demands on power and hence fuel consumption.

The genius of mild hybrid technology is that it allows virtually any powertrain to be electrified by adding additional hardware, so this technology can be used with other engine types including Mercedes-Benz inline sixes and V8s.

As seen in the Mercedes-Benz C 300, mild hybrid drive pairs four-cylinder petrol engines with an integrated starter generator (ISG) and a 48-volt vehicle electrical system. The ISG is essentially a compact electric motor and generator in one that replaces a conventional starter motor and is located between the engine and transmission. The ISG gets its electricity from a powerful 48-volt battery that also supplies the rest of the vehicle electrical system.

When working as a motor, the ISG supplies electric power directly to the engine, boosting output without burning more fuel. But when working as a generator, the ISG’s role is reversed and it generates electricity that is then stored in the 48-volt battery. As a mild hybrid drive model accelerates, electricity moves from the battery to the ISG, delivering a boost in performance. Then, as the vehicle decelerates, the spinning action of the engine drives the ISG, generating power and charging the battery.

This process happens seamlessly and continuously while driving so that the driver is barely aware of the technology at play. The most tell-tale sign that vehicle is in action is the instant surge of electric-like acceleration it provides.

In the Mercedes-Benz C 300 Sedan, mild hybrid drive delivers an additional 15kW and 200Nm of electric power and torque for a brief period when the vehicle starts and accelerates. This reduces the need for the ICE to use fuel to boost its performance, resulting in strong acceleration, potential fuel savings and reduced emissions over a comparably sized and powered conventional ICE vehicle.

Plug-in hybrid at play

The other innovative hybrid technology in the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range is the plug-in hybrid. This technology effectively bridges the gap between hybrids and fully electric models and gives customers the best of two worlds: in town they can run in all-electric mode, with next to no tailpipe emissions, while on longer journeys this hybrid model utilises the range of the combustion engine.

Unlike mild hybrid drive models that recharge their battery exclusively while driving, plug-in hybrid models can be recharged by plugging in to an electrical power source, just as you do with a battery electric vehicle. This model also captures otherwise wasted braking energy to optimise the battery in a process known as regenerative braking.

The Mercedes-Benz A 250 e Hatchback and Sedan are examples of popular PHEV models that can travel up to 73km in all-electric mode. In this mode, the A 250 e solely uses its 75kW/300Nm electric motor and its 15.6kWh on-board battery. Meanwhile, the highly efficient 1.3-litre, four-cylinder combustion engine (118kW/250Nm) comes into its own on longer road trips.

The combined output of the A 250 e powertrain is a healthy 160kW and 450Nm, with the system switching seamlessly between EV and ICE modes to create exceptional fuel economy in the order of 1.6L/100km (ADR combined cycle), and tailpipe emissions measured at a low 34 grams/km of CO2. Performance is also exceptional, with acceleration to 100km/h from rest taking just 6.6 seconds in the hatchback.

Discover Mecedes-Benz Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles and book a test drive today.

By Jonathan Weller