Mercedes-Benz will show off its new Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept at the 63rd IAA in Frankfurt. Not long after the successful launch of Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz will show a new concept called the Vision S500 HYBRID, a plug-in hybrid version of the large luxury sedan with gasoline engine.

The Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept can drive for up to 18 miles solely on electric drive without any local emissions. The efficient drive system combined with CO2 plus for the battery-electric driving mode enables the vehicle to achieve a certified consumption of only 3.2 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. With CO2 emissions of only 74 grams per kilometre in the New European Driving Cycle, the experimental vehicle developed in Sindelfingen demonstrates the long-term viability of future Mercedes-Benz.

"The Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is a new milestone on our path toward zero-emission mobility," says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "It is a luxurious and safe S Class that offers superior driving performance while at the same time consuming less fuel than current compacts. All of this shows that our top models will also be able to combine automotive fascination with responsibility for the environment."

The Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept has all of the powers of the Mercedes-Benz .

• Powerful V6 gasoline engine with a next-generation direct injection system.
• 44 kW/60 hp Hybrid module.
• Lithium-ion battery with more than 10 kWh of storage.

The Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds with fuel economy expected at 3.2L/100km emitting 74 grams of CO2/100km. 'Although it will take some time before this model can go into series production, our engineers will be working full steam to carry out the necessary integration measures and ensure that all components can meet the tough everyday demands required of a long-distance luxury saloon,’ says Dr. Thomas Weber, who is a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for R&D at Mercedes-Benz.

‘We have already got all the key equipment we need for such a dream car, which is why I see it being integrated in the next generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The important thing now is that our development work be accompanied by the establishment of a full-coverage infrastructure that will allow the potential of this pioneering drive system to be fully exploited,’ adds Dr. Thomas Weber.

The design of Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is mostly same as that for the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. One system-specific attribute is the existence of an extra clutch included between the combustion engine and the electric motor. This mechanism decouples the two components in electric drive mode, thereby ensuring highest level of efficiency. It is fully integrated into the vehicle's converter housing, so the clutch does not take up any additional space.

The system employed in the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, the Hybrid module in the Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept also comes with the ECO start/stop function. This feature enhances safety driving, which has electric motor providing great sustain to the combustion engine during the high consumption acceleration phase. This system has already confirmed its capability in different pattern in Mercedes Benz Sprinter.

The difference between the Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid and conventional hybrids involves the plug-in battery, which can be charged at charging stations, thereby enabling the Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid to travel up to 18 miles on electric power. The quick charge cycle takes less than 1 hour with a charging capacity of 20 kW. A standard charge cycle at a conventional household socket with 3.3 kW takes about 4.5 hours to charge a completely discharged battery.

The weight of the electrical components in the current experimental vehicle is 474 pounds, in that lithium-ion battery weighs about 286 pounds. The vehicle's Hybrid module also provides additional energy when car is in motion through regenerative braking.