A world first from Mercedes-Benz Vans: the Vito E-CELL crewbus is the first seven-seater vehicle worldwide to offer local emission-free mobility ex-factory as standard. With its range of around 130 km it is ideal for use in environmentally sensitive areas, such as pedestrian zones, city centres or health resorts. The range of 130 km is optimised for deployment on short routes involving numerous stops.
Diverse range of applications in local emission-free passenger transport
The Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL crewbus lends itself to a broad scope of applications: in particular, for the first time ever it offers companies a local emission-free and also highly comfortable means of organising the short-range transportation of passengers on shuttle services or internal company transport services. Apart from restaurants and hotels in downtown locations with restricted access, the Vito E-CELL crewbus is also a highly interesting proposition for deployment in conservation areas and nature reserves. It is equally ideal for works transport at large companies or for deployment at airports and seaports.
Showcasing state-of-the-art drive technology: transparent model of the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL at the Geneva Motor Show
For the first time ever, the transparent model of the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL provides a vivid demonstration of how electric mobility works. Mercedes-Benz is offering clear insights in Geneva into the Vito E-CELL's mode of functioning: from chargers through voltage transformers, high-voltage control units and the battery to the electric motor. The model employs high-performance LEDs to visualise the flow of current from the battery via the control electronics to the drive shafts.
The technical concept behind the Vito E-CELL crewbus
The electric motor (60 kW; max. torque 280 Nm), power electronics, transformer and AC/DC charger are accommodated under the bonnet. The generated power is transmitted to the front wheels. The powerful and robust lithium-ion traction batteries are accommodated under the passenger compartment floor. The nominal voltage stands at 360 V, with a capacity of 36 kWh. The speed is electronically limited to 89 km/h in the interests of a range of 130 km (New European Driving Cycle, NEDC). The Vito E-CELL crewbus is well able to hold its own in city traffic with the available battery power. Acceleration from 0 to 50/80 km/h in 6.5/11 seconds ensures that it is a swift mover at all times.
The Vito E-CELL's batteries are charged from the 380/400 V grid in a maximum of five hours. Charging from the 230 V grid is subsequently possible as necessary. The battery additionally stores recuperated power while the vehicle is in motion.
The Vito E-CELL does not compromise on safety: ESP and driver's airbag come as standard and a safety belt is integrated in each seat. The batteries are protected by a crash element. In the event of airbag activation, the high-voltage technology will be shut down automatically. The Vito E-CELL has demonstrated its high safety standard in an impressive manner in crash tests.
Clocking up 650,000 km, a weath of positive experience and numerous awards
After its first year in service with customers, the Vito E-CELL has proven its credentials as an ideal vehicle for urban traffic. In all, 230 Vito E-CELL vans are now on the road as part of the promotion schemes currently in operation in Germany. Together, they have so far successfully covered around 650,000 km/h.
The Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL has won a host of awards from independent juries. Among its titles is "Green Commercial of the Year". In 2011 the Vito E-CELL won the "Alternative Drives" innovation award in the "KEP-Transporter des Jahres" competition for courier, express and parcel delivery vans, the "Umwelttechnikpreis Baden-Württemberg" for environmental engineering and technology and the Design Award at the Michelin "Challenge Bibendum", one of the largest forums worldwide on sustainable mobility.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
smart is supplementing its mobility offering with additional, customer-friendly services. From the summer of 2012 all smart drivers will be able to take advantage of exclusive services in many car parks and to avail of different kinds of rental vehicles to meet their needs at short notice. And all this at very favourable terms. In future the cooperation with APCOA and EUROPCAR will offer all smart drivers even faster, cheaper and more flexible mobility.
The new smart services will be successively introduced from the summer of 2012. The first offerings of the smart mobility package include the cooperation with Europcar, the leading car rental company in Europe, and the car park operator APCOA. In addition to preferential terms, the new mobility services offer straightforward, convenient and time-saving handling.
"In future finding a parking space for your smart will not only be even easier, you will also pay less for it. And if on occasion you want or need to use a larger car, then as smart driver preferential terms apply when you hire a car. Together with our partners APCOA and Europcar we are making life, driving and parking even easier and more convenient for all smart customers", says smart boss Dr. Annette Winkler.
The cooperation between smart and APCOA offers smart drivers flexible parking. No more having to look for small change before exiting, no more worrying about losing the parking ticket and no more queuing at pay machines. As part of the new service smart drivers will receive an RFID chip (Radio Frequency Identification), which identifies their vehicle when they enter and leave the car park. This greatly facilitates car park entry: the barrier opens automatically, there is no need to take a ticket. What's more, thanks to reserved parking spaces, smart drivers can always enter the car park, even if the sign says "full". Charging is then automatic via credit card or direct debit, whichever the customer prefers. Cooperation with APCOA will initially start in selected car parks in Stuttgart, Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf. Further cities in Germany and Europe will follow. "APCOA offers comprehensive urban parking services at very central locations. smart stands for perfect urban mobility together with easy and stress-free parking.", says Peter Schneck, Managing Director of APCOA Autoparking GmbH. "This cooperation therefore links the two urban brands in a logical and ideal way."
"smart is a great vehicle concept, especially in urban areas. On the rare occasions when more seats or more transportation space are needed, in future we will step in with our rental fleet", says Roland Keppler, CEO of Europcar Group "The extremely wide Europcar portfolio offers smart customers the right mode of transport for almost every occasion, which means that it is the ideal complement for everyday needs." What's more, these smart customers can use the express service at Europcar branches, saving them lots of time both when picking up and returning the vehicle. This represents real added value in terms of flexibility and spontaneity. The service will initially start in Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and France and will then be gradually extended to further markets.
The new mobility services can also be used individually and are available to all smart drivers. They can be ordered free of charge via www.smart.com:
- To use the APCOA service an RFID chip must simply be affixed to the windscreen. A smart dealer will do this in a matter of minutes. In addition to added convenience smart drivers also receive a 15 percent discount on parking charges.
- The Europcar premium card is given to customers personally the first time they rent a vehicle at a Europcar branch. Customers register in advance online giving their address and credit card details. No further forms or applications are needed. In addition to guaranteed vehicle availability and express processing preferential terms apply – for example a 20 percent discount on vehicle rental.
With these services smart is continuing its success story as a comprehensive urban mobility concept.
About APCOA
APCOA is Europe’s leading parking manager and as a service provider for properties offers a complete service package related to parking. Currently the APCOA Group manages 1.3 million parking spaces at over 6,700 locations in 13 countries. The European headquarters and German branch are based at Stuttgart Airport.
About Europcar
Europcar is the leader in car rental services in Europe. Present in 150 countries, the company provides customers with access to the world’s largest vehicle rental network through its own operations, franchisees and partnerships. Through Europcar’s portfolio of brands, the company and its franchisees generated more than €3 billion in revenue in 2010, including nearly €2 billion in consolidated revenue. With 6,600 employees committed to delivering customer satisfaction and an average fleet of close to 200,000 vehicles, Europcar is conscious of its corporate citizenship responsibilities. Winner of the first World Travel Award recognizing the World's Leading Green Transport Solutions Company, Europcar also was honored with the Award in 2010 and 2011. Europcar is owned by Eurazeo.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
car2go Europe GmbH, a joint venture between car2go GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, and Europcar, the leader in car rental services in Europe, launched today the car2go service in Lyon, France. car2go provides Lyon residents with a fleet of 200 low-emission, self-service smart fortwo micro compact cars. As the world’s first mobility program with maximum flexibility and without fixed rental locations, car2go offers its members an opportunity to spontaneously rent vehicles anytime and anywhere without having to specify a time or place of return in advance.
“Innovative urban mobility solutions like car2go offer a way to help meet the challenges of urban congestion, reducing carbon emissions and improving quality of life,” said Gérard Collomb, Mayor of Lyon and President of ”‘Grand Lyon”. “Following the actions we initiated in 2005 with Velo’v, the first self-service bike sharing system, Lyon is innovating again with car2go, a new approach to car sharing which is complementary to other initiatives enabling our residents to move around town. Choosing Lyon, Europcar and Daimler strengthen the role of our city being one of the European leaders in terms of sustainable mobility.”
“We are excited to make our French debut in a city which is well-known for its innovation in the sector of urban transportation,” said Marcus Spickermann, Chief Financial Officer of the car2go Group. “More than 60.000 customers worldwide are using car2go in their daily lives, and we are convinced that car2go is a perfect fit for Lyon residents too.”
The car2go vehicles can be rented and returned within an operating area of 44 square kilometres covering the Lyon city centre. Members can find car2go vehicles spontaneously on the street, via the internet at www.car2go.com, and with the help of several smartphone applications. The vehicle selected can be unlocked using a personal membership card. At the end of the trip, car2go drivers do not have to bring the car2go back to where the trip started. They can simply leave the car at their destination - at any public parking space and at all Lyon carsharing-stations inside the car2go business area. Parking fees are included in the per-minute rental fee at no additional cost.
Lyon residents can register at www.car2go.com, and at the new car2go shop at Le Terra Mundi – 2 place de Francfort in Lyon. Until February 11th, 2012, Lyon residents can benefit from the special launch discount and save more than 10 Euro by only paying 4,90 Euro registration fee and receiving 60 free driving minutes. For members who register after February 11th, 2012, there will be a one-time registration fee of 14,90 Euro.
Customers pay only for the actual time they use the vehicle, by the minute, with discounted rates for hourly and daily use. The rental prices in Lyon are 0,29 Euro per driving minute, 12,90 Euro per hour and 39 Euro per day (24 hours). During stopovers, which can be used for example while shopping, a special parking rate of 0,09 Euro per minute will be calculated. Fuel, insurance, taxes and parking costs are fully included in the price that furthermore includes mileage up to 20 kilometres. Additional kilometres will cost 0,29 Euro each. Experience shows that the average range of a car2go rental is between 5 and 10 kilometres so the extra mileage costs are only relevant for those members who wish to leave the city and come back.
“The 2010 Europcar’s Transportation and Mobility Observatory showed that 47% of European urban drivers are considering giving up their cars and 61% of them consider that cars available in self service are an attractive mobility option. car2go will provide Lyon people with a fully-flexible service, combined with short term car rental services for a fully comprehensive mobility solution” said Philippe Guillemot, CEO of Europcar Groupe.
Thanks to a cooperation between car2go and the bikesharing service Vélo’v, Vélo’v customers will benefit from the reduced car2go registration fee of 9,90 Euro including 30 free driving minutes at any time.
car2go has already been successfully launched in seven cities: in Ulm and Hamburg (Germany), in Amsterdam (Netherlands), in Vienna (Austria), in Austin and San Diego (USA), and in Vancouver (Canada). The German city of Düsseldorf is going to follow soon – Lyon is the first home of car2go in France. A total of more than 2.000 car2go vehicles are currently on the road and more than 60.000 members have registered for the service worldwide.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
