Mercedes Considers Selling B-Class Hatchback That Runs on Natural Gas to U.S.
By Scott Doggett February 3, 2009
Mercedes-Benz says it's thinking of selling in the United States a B-class four-door hatchback fueled by compressed natural gas, very similar to the European 2009 B-class model shown here.
Mercedes, part of Daimler AG, plans to display a CNG - or rather NGT, for natural gas technology - B-class model this week at the Washington Auto Show.
Natural gas, once was considered a promising alternative fuel, has fallen out of favor in the light-duty segment even though it tends to be cheaper than gasoline and releases 20 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Regardless, Honda still sells the Civic GX, which runs on CNG.
Mercedes offers a B-class CNG vehicle can run on both natural gas and premium grade gasoline while delivering an identical maximum output of 116 horsepower. Five CNG gas tanks provide a natural gas range of 186 miles. With the gasoline tank, the vehicle has a total range between refueling of 620 miles.
The driver selects which fuel to use with the touch of a button in the steering wheel. An electronic control unit carries out the switch instantaneously without any jolts. Fuel economy tends to run about 32 miles per gallon combined.
The vehicle's four-cylinder engine has been modified by Mercedes-Benz to include additional gas injectors on the underside of the intake manifold. A close-coupled pressure governor with an electromagnetic shut-off valve regulates the supply of natural gas and keeps the pressure within the system constant.
We hope Mercedes will provide additional details during the auto show, which runs February 4 through 8.
LEAVE A COMMENT