On November 16, 2009, Mercedes-Benz launches the innovative ML450 Hybrid, the first European full hybrid vehicle to be offered in the United states. The ML450 Hybrid features two electric motors and a 275-hp V6 gasoline engine that work together to provide impressive hybrid power, fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon around town and 24 mpg on the highway.
The new Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid uses a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine, optimized via the Atkinson cycle, two magneto-electric motors and hybrid electronics to produce 46 percent better fuel economy than a comparable V8-powered ML550 model.
Integrated within the modified automatic transmission, each electric motor serves a specific purpose. Dedicated to pulling away under electric power, the motor on the transmission output shaft generates 80 hp and 192 lb.-ft of torque.
Located closer to the gasoline engine, the second electric motor is set up specifically for acceleration and is rated at 83 hp and 173 lb.-ft of torque. Working with both electric motors when full power is needed, the ML450 Hybrid has a total system performance of 335 hp and 381 lb.-ft. of torque.
The electric motors are powered by a liquid-cooled, 288-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery that's enclosed under the rear cargo floor. A powerful computer controls the hybrid system, recalculating the best operating mode 160 times a second. Capable of up to 50 million calculations per second, the system works to maintain an ideal balance between fuel economy and performance.
During parking and low-speed operation, the ML450 Hybrid runs on the electric drive only. The ML450 Hybrid can drive solely on electric power up to a maximum speed of 34 mph. On hard acceleration, the gasoline engine is started automatically, and it works seamlessly with the two electric motors for excellent performance. The hybrid system includes a convenient start-stop function that turns off the gasoline engine -- for example, when coasting up to a red light -- and re-starts it during acceleration.
During braking and coasting, the electric motor acts as a generator, slowing the SUV and recovering kinetic energy. Under heavy braking, the vehicle's conventional brakes also come into play. Recovered energy is stored in the battery and re-used whenever the SUV runs only on the electric motors.