Automotive pollution is a serious concern and new emission regulation are tougher each year. In some countries lower emission can mean lower car insurance or the right to use HOV lanes.
We take an exclusive look at Mercedes new BlueTEC Diesel.
Diesel has been a dirty word in the U.S. for numerous years. Unfortunately for many people, the fuel brings to mind images of black smoke oozing from tailpipes or large trucks with a thirst for power. But times are changing. For decades diesel has been the building block for fuel economy technology, and now it has also shifted into leading the way to cleaner emissions. One prime example of this is the new Mercedes BlueTEC engine, and it has given the TopSpeed Team access to preview the new diesel.
Most diesel fans know that Mercedes has been offering a
low-sulfur enging called BlueTEC since 2006 in the E-Class, but Mercedes has a new innovation for the engine called AdBlue. This additive to the exhaust reduces part of the harmful gasses into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. For more information on the science behind AdBlue, watch the official video below.
The engine will be available in U.S. this fall on ML, GL, and R-Class SUVs. Each car will receive similar V-6 engines, each making 210 bhp and 398 lb.ft. of torque. An example of performance is the GL 320 BlueTEC achieves an estimated 23 mpg (highway), which Mercedes claims is a benefit of approximately 20 to 40 percent over a comparable gasoline engine.
Cars are becoming more efficient inside and out. Engines discharge lower pollutants, transmissions use longer gearing to better fuel economy, and even interiors are being manufactured out of more recyclable materials. The next frontier is utilizing state of the art manufacturing operations that use less energy.
Japanese carmaker Toyota has turned its engineering eye to the paint shop at its Tsutsumi plant in Japan. According to Toyota, because of multiple coats and “drying ovens”, almost a quarter of all energy needed to build a car goes into the painting process. So now it is using a new approach called "3-Wet", which eliminates a “drying oven” and decreases energy usage by 15 percent.
The purpose behind a greener painting process is not difficult to understand. Hybrids and electric vehicles that Toyota is going to mass-manufacture in the future are mild on the environment, and the manufacturing procedures that go into making such vehicles should be eco-friendly as well. Luxury models like the Lexus sedans won’t use the technology since multiple finishes are needed for them, but eco-conscious models like the Prius will utilize the new paint technology.
Toyota feels this new energy-saver technology is necessary because of the nature of manufacturing. "Our production has grown over the last decade so much the energy required to manufacture each and every vehicle has also grown considerable overall," said Takeshi Uchiyamada, the executive overseeing production.
When it comes to air quality, Beijing tops the list of the worst. Now that the city will be on worldwide display at this summer’s Olympics, images of hazy skies and athletes wearing facemasks to stay healthy will not look well for the city. So today, in an effort to lift the fog, Chinese authorities started a program that uses license plates to prohibit some passenger cars from the city. During alternate days, only even or odd numbered plates will be allowed on the roads of China’s capital city. Beijing is reported to be home to about 3.5 million total vehicles, and this ban should take about one million passenger vehicles off the road.
Beijing is doing its best to keep its citizens happy while it tries to impress the world. So until the ban is lifted in September, no one will have to pay road and vehicle taxes. This is part of a larger comprehensive plan that has included stopping large construction projects, closing high-polluting factories, and even firing large projectiles into the clouds to encourage rain.
The Fiji Islands bring to mind images gorgeous beaches and fine weather. Utilizing the quiet and humble nature of electric cars is the newest idea to help to ensure this harmony and peace. Korean electric car manufacturer CT and T, is interested in setting up a production plant to serve the island’s personal transportation needs, as well as exporting to nearby New Zealand and Australia.
The CT and T e-zone should fit this plan well. It uses a four wheel independent suspension, a rigid aluminium frame, and meets a few European and American safety standards. It additionally has a few appealing options, including lithium ion power units, an airbag for safety, and even in-wheel motors. Its 60 mile+ radius with the lithium option makes it a competent and clean choice for the citizens and visitors of Fiji.
Sometime in the future, gas stations would switch to selling gas. Gas in the sense, air, which when compressed to an extent, has enough energy to help a specially designed engine, generate power. Big companies like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, are interested in looking for other ways to run their cars, and might want to take a close look at these air powered engines.
Sure, these things make a lot of noise and don’t coax out enough horsepower, but with time and research, things could change drastically. Just like how electric cars or hybrid cars have evolved and reached a certain stage where the trade-offs are not considerable and offer a number of advantages over the normal cars, soon air powered engines might catch on and small-car manufacturers could use them on a large scale.
