It's a great move from Daimler this partnership with BYD. At last something with a future, after the Chrysler flop. But is it really worth it? Here are some thoughts:
First of all, a fundamental question needs to be raised: "Are hybrid/electric cars really worth it?"
Most, if not all of as here, like genuine driving enthusiasts, even if some of us refuse to admit that driving a manual gearbox is fun, would answer, simply, NO. But why? For many reasons.
First of all, all car manufacturers, try to lower their average fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of their fleet of cars. This is not only because of the pressure applied by the European Union or the Federal American Government, but because of the progress of the technology used in modern cars. You see, at first we had carburators, then we discovered MPI, and now, DI is the magic word. This progress of technology, not only adds in power/output of engines, yet it adds to efficiency as well: More power with less consumption, less emissions. Turbo technology (unless driven like there is no tomorrow) gives more power for less engine volume, thus (more or less) less fuel. I strongly believe that the EU tried to cash on that, playing the "environment card" and pushing car manufacturers to become more eco-friendly, since this appeared to be the easiest thing to do, when people (or time) demand to be easy with the environment.
To make a little parenthesis here, I hope everyone knows why this whole crazyness with CO2 emissions. This is because the CO2 is one of the most important gasses that add to the Greenhouse Effect (GE) by 9 to 26%. The greenhouse effect is caused by an atmosphere containing gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases trap heat within the surface-troposphere system, causing heating at the surface of the planet or moon. So, gasses like CO2 or methane, do really matter. End of parenthesis.
Summing up, car manufacturers make the cars more modern, and more powerfull and more efficient, which is the logical outcome of technological progress. Yet, the EU wants more, and the engineers try to suck an MPG or two, from their designs. This leads to changes, which driving enthusiasts do not like. Emissions control led to turbos, to downsizing, to more expensive petrol and even to problems like the ABS software problem that the Prius owners face. The last, I will talk about later on.
So, changes that subtract from driving fun,due to emissions requirements, are not welcome.
Then comes the age of technology. How many years since ABS was first introduced in an S-Class before it was widely spread? Many many. How many years it was tested? Many many. When it was released did it become a safety threat? Definitely not. Even in its primitive form. Yes hybrid technology has still to prove its advantage in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared with a modern diesel. What is more ecological. A VW Polo BlueTec or a Toyota Prius with an ancient 1.8l engine and 200kg of lithium batteries? In both cars, the kinetic energy that moves the car, comes from the chemical energy of the gasoline. In both cars, gas is burned to create movement, thus kinetic energy. In the Prius, the kinetic energy can be converted into chemical energy (stored in the batteries), but with huge losses, which in the end saves fuel. A Polo diesel, with a much more simpler drivetrain, a redesigned front bumper and a 1.3l diesel engine uses much less fuel than a super-high-tech hybrid. Why? You tell me...
What I want to prove, is that hybrid and/or full electric cars need many years of more testing before they achieve their goal and be more efficient and more eco-friendly than the equivelant oil burner. And problems, like the one with the Prius, proves that the technology has still a long way to go, before it's completely safe, durable and dependable. Now, it is not.
But then comes the amount of energy used to create a gas/diesel car in comparison to a hybrid.
Do you know how much damage to the environment does the production of those Lithium-Ion batteries? I am waiting from an official answer from a fellow engineer, but the numbers will bring you terror. I a Prius is good for the environment, then the process of making it is three times worse than making and driving a Polo. And in some cases a Hummer.
Moreover, hybrid cars have no manual gearboxes, not mechanical gas pedals, no mechanical connection of gas and brake pedal to anything, everything is artificial. Driving a Honda Insight, is like playing with a simulator, yet in a more real environment.
I can go on and on and on, about why hybrids is still not a viable solution to the global warming problem, and how using alternative fuels could be better, given the existing technology.
But I will tell you this: How much to the total of CO2 emissions add the whole fleet of cars on the planet today? Maybe 10-12%. Not more. Add all the tankers together and they produce two times as much CO2 as cars do.
But the biggest figure comes from my sector. 45% of the annual total CO2 emissions on the planet come from the constructions industry. Building, heating, cooling and maintaining existing buildings, produces almost half of the CO2 every year. This is where the EU and the rest of the global officials should focus on. Eco-building, or whatever you name it. Make buildings efficient. I have some numbers somewhere and I gurantee you this: If you want to save the earth, make your house efficient. Not your car.
Let me say this: Greece adds to the annual CO2 emissions a percentage of 0.002%. This may not sound much, but given that my country has a population of only 10.000.000 folks, 0.002 is far to much for such a small country. This is because more than 80% of the existing buildings have no heat insulation and the 15% not sufficient heat insulation and energy efficience.
In my humble opinion, EU should focus in buildings, not on cars, the easy targets.
edit: I forgot to comment about the sugnificance of the MB-BYD partnership. Well, given the cost of developing a hybrid powertrain, and the fact that everything is common, not like engines that each car maker has it's owns, hybrid systems are made by a handful of companies and then bought by car makers. Financially, it makes a lot of sense. For me, they better focus on hydrogene, before it's too late...
