The latest auto trend is creating a greener lineup of vehicles. This is an industry effort to lessen foreign oil dependence, improve mileage, and at the same time respond to global warming concerns.
The most recent addition to the automakers green list is Daimler AG. The German automaker said last Monday that it has launched a global initiative focused on hybrid technology aimed at drastically reducing the emissions and fuel consumption of commercial vehicles, said Market Watch.
"Hybrid technology plays a key role in these vehicles, as it can reduce diesel consumption by up to 30%," Daimler said in a statement. “The initiative encompasses all of the globally networked research and development activities in the area of alternative drives and fuels for all of the brands at Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses.”
Hybrids combine an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. Daimler is the world's biggest producer of commercial vehicles by sales.
“The global market for commercial vehicles is expected to rise by 50% over the next ten years, powered mainly by growing demand in Brazil, Russia, India and China,” said the Head of Daimler Trucks, Andreas Renschler, in a press conference in Stuttgart. He added that he remains optimistic for the overall truck market in 2008.
The company, meanwhile, said that customers will test the Mercedes-Benz Atego BlueTec Hybrid and Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid at the beginning of 2008. European customers will conduct fleet tests with 10 Canter Eco Hybrids from 2008 onward, it added.
In a statement, the company has this to say: "Daimler plans to employ alternative drive systems in additional vehicle models and regions, focusing primarily on hybrids. In North America, Freightliner will manufacture 1,500 M2 hybrid trucks over the next three years and also produce a hybrid version of a Thomas Built school bus.”
In Europe, the maker of Mercedes radiators will deliver the first Atego BlueTec Hybrids to shoppers in Germany, France and the Czech Republic in 2008.
Daimler said that it is investigating the possibility of using alternative fuels in order to preserve fossil sources of energy. According to Daimler, the most promising fuels from renewable resources are vegetable oil-derived hydrated fuels and BTL, or biomass to liquid, fuels.
The company said, because hybrid vehicles cost a third more than comparable diesel vehicles, economic aspects will play a crucial role in the acceptance of alternative drive systems. Although the overall cost of ownership of hybrid vehicles is improved by their fuel savings, incentives will be needed for at least a few years following the market launch, the automaker concluded.