S 400 HYBRID: Boosting efficiency with the modular hybrid system

With the Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID introduced on the market in 2009, Daimler was the first European manufacturer to offer a hybrid passenger car from large-series production. The modular concept, realized in this premium automobile for the first time, shows how hybrid drive configurations can be efficiently realized to meet a wide variety of requirements.

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Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID: The first hybrid vehicle to be offered by a European manufacturer

The key component is a battery based on lithium-ion technology, which is superior in terms of power output and storage capacity. The second element
is the compact hybrid module, which develops 15 kilowatts in the
Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID.

The disc-shaped electric motor is conveniently located in the torque converter housing between the engine and the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission. The compact unit also functions as a starter motor and generator. The hybrid module for example includes the ECO start-stop function. During braking, the electric motor functions as a generator and can recuperate
kinetic energy. The energy recovered by this means is stored in a new high-voltage lithium-ion battery specially developed for automotive application.

The major advantages of the lithium-ion battery over conventional batteries are its higher energy density and more favorable electrical efficiency despite its more compact dimensions and lower weight. The battery has an exceptionally
high cycle stability – a service life of at least ten years is attainable under normal conditions of use.