<
https://cleantechnica.com/2022/11/01/mercedes-last-ice-platform-2023-midsize-ev-sedan-2024/>
"In general, the average lifespan for an automotive model is 7 years. The
Mercedes E Class is due for an update next year, and Mercedes told Germany’s
Automobil Woche this week that the new platform for the E Class will be the
last internal combustion chassis it will develop. All subsequent new model
series in the future will be based on architectures that the Stuttgart-based
company is developing specifically for electric vehicles, Electrive reports.
Markus Schäfer, who is in charge of product development for Mercedes, said, “As
things stand today, the E-Class with its derivatives is the last Mercedes-Benz
model to be created on a pure combustion engine platform.” The current versions
of the S Class and C Class, which are based on the same platform, will be
phased out at the end of their model cycle. Mercedes plans to put only
battery-electric new vehicles on the road by 2030 and will introduce only new
electric platforms from 2025.
Three such architectures have been announced so far, plus the MMA discussed in
the next section. MB.EA covers all mid-sized and large passenger cars and “will
be the electric basis of the future BEV portfolio as a scalable modular
system.” For the performance models, the AMG.EA “electric platform designed for
peak performance” is intended to address “the needs of Mercedes-AMG’s
technology-savvy and performance-oriented customers.” Electric vans and light
commercial vehicles are to be launched on the basis of the VAN.EA, which is
also new.
Given the focus on BEV vehicles, Mercedes-Benz plans to reduce its range of
internal combustion engines with the introduction of the Euro 7 emissions
standard and also end its engine cooperation with Renault for compact cars.
Regarding fuel cell vehicles, Schäfer says there are considerable disadvantages
in terms of unit costs, energy efficiency, and the space required for the
tanks. This technology makes sense for trucks on the long haul, but for
passenger cars Mercedes is fully focused on the battery-electric future, he
said."
Via
Future Crunch issue 189:
https://futurecrunch.com/
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
