GOING GREEN WITH BLUE Mercedes-Benz BLUETEC Joe Harrenstein

2007 E320 Electronic Fuel Injection the Key Not Just Any Diesel Fuel Agency Reluctance Real World Benefits? Future Implications Summary Critique

2007 E320 Replaced inline 6 cylinder with V6 BLUETEC – system of diesel emissions controls including: –4 valves per cylinder –Redesigned fuel injectors –New injection design –Redesigned turbocharger –221 HP, 376 lb ft of torque

Electronic Fuel Injection the Key Fully electronic fuel injection –Impossible a decade ago Cleaner, quieter and more powerful then mechanical injection 20% to 30% lower CO2 and lower CO then gasoline motors Higher NOx and PM New system can pass 50 state inspection

Not Just Any Diesel Fuel Requires low sulfur diesel –Less then 15 ppm 3 exhaust after-treatment controls AdBlue injection –Metered in minute amount into exhaust –NH3 converts NOx into N and H2O –Currently used in M-B commercial vehicles

Agency Reluctance EPA only certified the E320 in 45 states –M-B is working on getting the entire BLUTEC system 50 state certified EPA says that motorists will not voluntarily fill tank to keep emissions –AdBlue may be required to be a regular required maintence item

Real World Benefits? BLUETEC has the cleanest diesel emissions Customers would benefit from lower fuel costs of diesel and better fuel mileage It is predicted that US diesel sales will quadruple in the next decade 20 to 40% better mileage then gasoline

Future Implications As US fuel prices increase, diesel may be an alternative option The BLUETEC gets better mileage then hybrids Diesels are very suitable for large sedans, trucks and SUVs Diesel has not been looked at as a fuel alternative but it may be in the future

Summary M-B has come up with a solution to diesel emissions that has been keeping diesels out of the US market Diesel has a more consistent pump price then gasoline which tends to fluctuate greatly

Critique A lot of useful information about this new technology Did a good job of explaining how each component works Written in a fairly technical language but not a problem for a auto technician Overall it is a very informative article