Tag Archives: Production Model


Mercedes unveils electric Vito

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A prototype of a electric -powered van based on the Vito Van has been unveiled by Mercedes-Benz at an EU meeting in Spain.

Powered with lithium-ion battery technology and a 90kW electric motor, the latestt arrival give an approx range of 80 miles between recharges . Top speed is limited to 50mph and it is to be a normal production model rather than a special conversion .

During the course of this year over 100 electric Vitos will be manufactured and supplied to 20 fleet operators and public bodies with a need to transport items in environmentally sensitive zones. A further 2,000 look set to be manufactured thereafter. The EU meeting involved European ministers talked about the economic viability of future technologies.

Not to be left behind , Ford will be launching an electric Transit Connect in the USA later this year . Not to be confused with the one developed by Smith Electric Vehicles, it is likely to be marketed on this side of the Atlantic from 2011 onwards.

Smith is supplying 10 of its electric Ford Transit-based Edisons to Ford of Europe. They’re wanted for a project to explore the possible environmental benefits of the use of battery powered commercial vehicles to the city of Cologne. Seven of the Edisons are vans, two are minibuses while the third is a chassis cab.

Germany hopes to have 1m zero-emission vehicles on its roads by 2020. The project will help forecast how electric LCVs could impact on this plan.

Today , more than ever, the success of a business depends on its ability to work efficiently and flexible enough to adapt to challenging changes . With this in mind, the Vito offers an remarkable range of options , a wide spectrum of applications and many trend-setting technical solutions which makes it ideally qualified to fit your usage profile, your business and your specialized transport needs .

Vito is available at attractive Van Leasing deals from Swiss Leasing

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Does the Bmw Hydrogen 7 Make Sense to You?

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hydrogen car
Chet Waters asked:


Does The BMW Hydrogen 7 Make Sense To You?

All we have been hearing for years is how we need to free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil. With the price of gas going out of site and the terrible emissions from car engines, it’s no wonder that BMW has taken the lead to create a better vehicle. The time is right for change in the automotive world.

What do you think about this?

First of all let me tell you that as of April 2008 there is no such thing as a production car from BMW or anyone else that runs on hydrogen. But the research being done by BMW is absolutely fascinating. The experimental model is the 2007 BMW Hydrogen 7. It’s really a 7 Series Sedan converted to run on liquid hydrogen. And like all experiments, this car is only for the purpose of learning how to make a hydrogen car work safely and economically.

According to a BMW company spokesman, “A BMW that is not a BMW anymore is not acceptable to us”. The fact is, BMW is putting their reputation and money on the line to adapt their existing 6.0 liter V12 to burn liquid hydrogen. When BMW works out a few sticky technical problems, hydrogen promises to revolutionize transportation as we humans know it.

The first problem with hydrogen is that it currently has to be produced from a source such as natural gas. To do this requires huge amounts of electricity usually being generated by burning coal. Not only is this expensive, but it is also bad for the environment. It’s like setting fire to your house in mid-January just so that you can keep warm for awhile. That doesn’t make much sense either, does it?

So don’t expect to see a production model BMW Hydrogen 7 anytime soon.

The second problem with a hydrogen car at this point is something most drivers will not tolerate. And that is, 30 gallons of liquid hydrogen will only get you about 125 miles. That’s why the BMW Hydrogen 7 is a dual-fuel vehicle. It can go another 310 miles on the 19.5 gallons of gasoline. Even though hydrogen may be the fuel of the future, finding a “hydrogen filling station” today is difficult to say the least. It’s just not going to happen soon.

The upside of driving a BMW Hydrogen 7 car is the positive effect on the environment. As you probably know, as you are motoring down the highway the exhaust is mostly good old fashion water.

But there is more to the exhaust than just water.

What you don’t know is that there will be small amounts of crankcase oil still emitted as it gets burned in the combustion chambers. This is the same with all internal combustion engines. There is also a small amount of nitric acid that is formed during combustion. Without getting too technical my friend, the nitric acid can be removed by a simple three-way catalyst.

Now, for all of you out there who either didn’t take chemistry in high school or college or who were sleeping in class when you should have been paying attention, I’ll make this easy for you. What comes out of the back end of the BMW Hydrogen 7 is “pretty darn clean”. It’s mostly just water.

Whew. That was easy. I told you it was going to be simple.

So, fellow traveler, our great adventure to create the car of the future has begun in the form of the BMW Hydrogen 7. There are many challenges to be overcome before you will see one of these cuties in your garage. But when it does make its grand entrance, I’ll be one of the first in line. The BMW Hydrogen 7 makes sense to me.

Does it make sense to you?

Chet Waters is the BMW Specialist. Learn How To Find Your BMW And At The Price You Can Afford. Go To:

http://www.bmwsauctions.com



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