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The ML450 Hybrid fulfills the same crash test requirements and offers
outstanding active safety with stability control systems such as ESP, ABS and
BAS, as well as 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The integration of the Hybrid technology
has been engineered to require no additional packaging space that would
compromise comfort or functionality. The space available in the passenger cabin
is as generous as before and the trunk capacity remains fully intact. From the
outside, the ML450 Hybrid is recognizable by its modified hood, the BlueEFFICIENCY logo on the fender and by the
Hybrid badge on its tailgate.
The ML450 Hybrid Boasts 46 Percent Better Fuel Economy
The new
Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid uses a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine, optimized via
the Atkinson cycle, two magneto-electric motors and sophisticated Hybrid
electronics to produce 46 percent better fuel economy than a comparable
V8-powered ML550 model. Integrated within the modified automatic transmission,
each electric motor serves a specific purpose. Dedicated to pulling away under
electric power, the motor on the transmission output shaft generates 80 hp and
192 lb-ft of torque.
Located closer to the gasoline engine, the second
electric motor is set up specifically for acceleration and is rated at 83 hp and
173 lb-ft of torque. Working with both electric motors when full power is
needed, the ML450 Hybrid has a total system performance of 335 hp and 381 lb-ft.
of torque.
The electric motors are powered by a liquid-cooled, 288-volt
nickel-metal-hydride battery that's enclosed under the rear cargo floor. A
powerful computer controls the Hybrid system, recalculating the best operating
mode 160 times a second. Capable of up to 50 million calculations per second,
the system works to maintain an ideal balance between fuel economy and
performance.
During parking and low-speed operation, the
ML450 Hybrid runs on the electric drive only. The ML450 Hybrid can drive solely
on electric power up to a maximum speed of 34 mph. On hard acceleration, the
gasoline engine is started automatically, and it works seamlessly with the two
electric motors for excellent performance. The Hybrid system includes a
convenient start-stop function that turns off the gasoline engine - for example,
when coasting up to a red light - and re-starts it during acceleration.
During braking and coasting, the electric motor acts as a generator, slowing the
SUV and recovering kinetic energy. Under heavy braking, the vehicle's
conventional brakes also come into play. Recovered energy is stored in the
battery and re-used whenever the SUV runs only on the electric motors.
