Hybrid vehicles combine all the advantages of the internal combustion engine with the benefits of electric power to achieve superior performance and exceptional efficiency.

Mercedes-Benz is at the cutting edge of hybrid drive system technology, with vehicles such as the new S 400 HYBRID leading the way. The vehicle features a 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine, supplemented by the hybrid module - an electric motor powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery. This innovative new battery – featured on a production hybrid vehicle for the first time – is more compact than a conventional nickel-metal hydride battery yet offers significantly better electrical performance.

Other key features of the S 400 HYBRID include recuperation, which converts braking energy into electric power to charge the lithium ion battery. The boost effect, whereby the electric motor supports the combustion engine when moving off or accelerating, and start / stop, which shuts down the V6 engine when it is not needed - for example, rolling up to a red traffic light. As soon as the driver presses the accelerator, the vehicle moves off using electric power and then starts the combustion engine.

In addition, the S 400 HYBRID’s advanced engine management system continually calculates the most efficient operating mode to suit the driving situation – whether it’s city, country, motorway or manoeuvring.

These innovative systems combine to make the S 400 HYBRID one of the cleanest, most fuel efficient vehicles in the luxury segment. CO2 emissions range from 186 to 191 g/km with fuel consumption ranging from 34.4 to 35.7 mpg* (combined).

Of course, Mercedes-Benz hybrid technology is not exclusive to the S 400 HYBRID. Many of the same systems feature on the ML 450 HYBRID, the super-efficient SUV we’ve produced for the United States market. And they can also be found on the stunning F 800 Style concept car, which uses a multi-drive platform with plug-in hybrid or fuel cell capabilities.

Similarly, the B-Class F-Cell – our first series-produced electric car with a fuel cell – uses the same compact lithium-ion battery as the S 400 HYBRID. To maximise efficiency, the F-Cell’s intelligent drive management system can determine whether the electrical energy is best used from the lithium-ion battery, the fuel cell, or a combination of the two systems.