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German parts supplier ZF Friedrichshafen will begin building electric motors destined for a hybrid version of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class at a plant in Schweinfurt, Germany, late this year.
At the Frankfurt motor show last fall, Mercedes rolled out a lineup of "greener" vehicles that it plans to launch through 2012. In that lineup is a hybrid S-Class set to go into production in 2009.
The hybrid S-Class will mate a V6 engine with an integrated starter-generator--a ZF transmission where an electric motor takes the place of the torque converter.
This setup lets the S-Class run on electric power only at low speeds, provides an electric "boost" to the V6 during hard acceleration and switches to regeneration mode to send electricity back to the battery pack under braking.
According to Mercedes, the hybrid powertrain in the S-Class will be rated at 299 hp and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds.
ZF said that electric motor production at Schweinfurt will be 35,000 units a year, although annual output can be expanded to 200,000 units. The company said it is working on eight volume-production hybrid projects for four vehicle manufacturers.
ZF said it will supply its electric motors to powertrains for cars, buses and delivery vehicles.
ZF to build electric motors for Mercedes hybrid - AutoWeek Magazine
M
At the Frankfurt motor show last fall, Mercedes rolled out a lineup of "greener" vehicles that it plans to launch through 2012. In that lineup is a hybrid S-Class set to go into production in 2009.
The hybrid S-Class will mate a V6 engine with an integrated starter-generator--a ZF transmission where an electric motor takes the place of the torque converter.
This setup lets the S-Class run on electric power only at low speeds, provides an electric "boost" to the V6 during hard acceleration and switches to regeneration mode to send electricity back to the battery pack under braking.
According to Mercedes, the hybrid powertrain in the S-Class will be rated at 299 hp and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds.
ZF said that electric motor production at Schweinfurt will be 35,000 units a year, although annual output can be expanded to 200,000 units. The company said it is working on eight volume-production hybrid projects for four vehicle manufacturers.
ZF said it will supply its electric motors to powertrains for cars, buses and delivery vehicles.
ZF to build electric motors for Mercedes hybrid - AutoWeek Magazine
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