Mercedes-Benz is now using their BlueTec diesel emission control systems across their entire range of commercial trucks. Everything from the Vario van to their big tractor trailers comes standard with the technology and meets the new Euro 4 diesel emission standards. Since BlueTec became available at the beginning of 2005, over 35,000 trucks have been equipped with it and BlueTec equipped vehicles have accumulated 1.2 billion miles in Europe. So far about two-thirds of all the trucks sold that meet the Euro 4/Euro 5 standards are Mercedes trucks.
Because the BlueTec engines can achieve the clean emissions with lean burn, they're able to get a 2-6 percent fuel consumption savings over trucks that met the older Euro 3 standard and 5-7 percent over competing Euro 4 compliant engines. Another cost advantage that truck operators get is toll costs. In order to encourage upgrading, trucks that meet the Euro 5 standard ahead of schedule get a 17 percent break on German motorway toll charges. According to Mercedes they are already well on their way to meeting the Euro 6 standards which are expected to come into force sometime in 2012-2014.
[Source: DaimlerChrysler] Mercedes-Benz Blue-Tec: taking the lead in fuel economy and environmental compatibility
* Mercedes-Benz offers the widest range of commercial vehicles with Euro 4 compliance (mandatory since October 2006)
* More than 2 billion kilometres already covered by Blue-Tec vehicles, and over 35,000 such trucks sold, mean Mercedes-Benz has the most experience in the field
* With an eye to the future, most customers are opting for the Blue-Tec 5 versions
Stuttgart, Nov 13, 2006
With innovative Blue-Tec diesel technology now in use across all its truck ranges, DaimlerChrysler is in full compliance with the Euro 4 emissions directive for commercial vehicles which has been in force since October 2006. All sectors of the short-radius distribution, long-distance transport and construction industries, together with operators of special-purpose vehicles such as local authorities, are able to find exactly the right vehicle with Blue-Tec diesel technology for their requirements. This means that all Mercedes-Benz trucks, from the robust Mercedes-Benz Vario large van and the Mercedes-Benz Atego, the Mercedes-Benz Axor and the Mercedes-Benz Actros long-distance transport truck to the Econic and the various Unimog series as well as the Actros SLT heavy-duty tractor now feature a single, standard-fit system. In fact, the vast majority of Axor and Actros customers are already choosing the optional future-proof Blue-Tec 5 version.
DaimlerChrysler has been offering Blue-Tec diesel technology since the beginning of 2005. The introduction of the new technology has exceeded all expectations: over 35,000 vehicles fitted with Blue-Tec have been sold to date. In Europe, Mercedes-Benz Blue-Tec vehicles have already been driven some 2 billion kilometres by satisfied customers. The popularity of the new Blue-Tec diesel technology is clear: Mercedes-Benz accounts for approximately two thirds of all Euro 4/Euro 5 trucks currently on the road. Within the competitive environment Mercedes-Benz, with Blue-Tec, has the greatest expertise in SCR technology. In the meantime all European truck manufacturers – at least in the heavy-duty truck sector have decided in favour of SCR technology.
Blue-Tec – the most economical technology for achieving emission compliance
The Mercedes-Benz trucks from DaimlerChrysler are amongst the most economical on the market. The low-pollutant Blue-Tec diesel technology for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles is an efficient way of offsetting rising fuel prices and offers a currently unrivalled combination of ecological and economic benefits.
Mercedes-Benz Blue-Tec trucks offer significant fuel savings of some 2 - 6% over the old Euro 3 technology and 5 - 7% over alternative Euro 4 technologies. For Axor and Actros long-distance transport vehicles with an average annual mileage of 150,000 kilometres, the new technology can realistically offer fuel savings of between1500 and 2000 litres a year. International comparison tests carried out by trade magazines have shown that in this way this technology, and particularly the very early availability of the especially low-pollutant Euro 5 versions, has benefits not only for the environment but ultimately also for operators.
Customers who opt for Blue-Tec 5 vehicles can start to enjoy numerous economic advantages from a very early stage and, what's more, they can enjoy them well into the future. For example, 40-tonne models which comply with the Euro 5 Directive ahead of schedule qualify for a reduction of up to 17 per cent on German motorway toll charges. Whereas other vehicles will pay 12 cents per motorway kilometre until October 2009, Euro 5 trucks will pay just 10 cents per kilometre over the same period. Depending on the total distance travelled, the total toll savings for Euro 5 trucks over more than four years can easily amount to several thousand euros. And it's not just German operators but also the many European carriers using transit routes though Germany that will benefit. Furthermore, in other European countries too, a wide range of financial incentives are planned or already in place for particularly low-pollutant commercial vehicles.
On the short-radius distribution front, too, significant savings can be made by operators using the Blue-Tec 4 Atego. In-house tests demonstrate that the fuel consumption with this vehicle is up to 8% than with EGR-based competitor solutions in the same weight class. This adds up to total savings of over € 5000 over the lifecycle of the Blue-Tec Atego.
Blue-Tec: future-proof technology for emission compliance
The new emission limits laid down by Euro 4 and above cannot be met without the use of exhaust aftertreatment systems. Two basic technological approaches can be distinguished: one involves reducing nitrogen oxides inside the engine, with downstream particulate control, while the other is based on downstream treatment of the nitrogen oxides using Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), which goes by the name of Blue-Tec at DaimlerChrysler. As a global corporation, DaimlerChrysler has extensive experience in both technologies. In view of the general market environment in Europe, it has decided in favour of Blue-Tec technology. Blue-Tec offers customers optimal economy, reliability and future-compatibility. The basic principle of Blue-Tec's SCR technology is that nitrogen oxides are converted into non-toxic nitrogen and water vapour in a catalyst using ammonia as a reducing agent.
The ammonia is provided in non-toxic form, as an odourless aqueous solution known as "AdBlue". The establishment of a Europe-wide network of public-access refilling sites for AdBlue has already made great strides. AdBlue is now available at more than 4,000 sites, from the Arctic Circle to southern Spain and from Ireland to Moscow. Haulage companies can also use depot-based AdBlue refilling stations or the flexible 200-litre AdBlue container. A vehicle with a 90-litre AdBlue tank has an operating range of up to 7500 10,000 kilometres. What's more, with Mercedes-Benz Blue-Tec technology this is not compromised by the need to operate on low-sulphur fuel or by any reduction in oil change and maintenance intervals.
As well as the current success of this technology, for DaimlerChrysler Blue-Tec is also an investment in the future, since it will provide the basis for meeting emission standards in the longer term. With Blue-Tec, DaimlerChrysler is already a step on the way to meeting the future Euro 6 standards, likely to come into force for all commercial vehicles registered in Europe in 2012. Blue-Tec will also have increasing relevance outside Europe too: in three to four years' time the NAFTA markets and Japan will be introducing the EPA 10 and JP 09 standards respectively. SCR technology will provide the basis for meeting these standards too.
Blue-Tec and the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle range
Starting in 2005, Blue-Tec was phased in successively as an option throughout the Mercedes-Benz Actros long-distance transport truck range. V6-engined Blue-Tec 4 and 5 Actros long-distance transport trucks were the first to come onto the market in February 2005. These were then joined by the V8-engined Blue-Tec 4 and Blue-Tec 5 models.
The long-haul Axor with an OM 457 in-line engine is available in Blue-Tec 4 and Blue-Tec 5 versions. The new OM 906 LA engines are Euro 4-compliant. Service intervals for the long-haul Axor are up to 100,000 kilometres, a further indication of the Axor's cost-efficiency.
At the RAI 2005 International Commercial Vehicle Show a wide range of Blue-Tec 4 engines for the Atego short-radius distribution truck were presented. These engines not only feature low emissions; they are also highly cost-efficient. Customers appreciate their excellent lifecycle costs, due to factors like their low fuel consumption, and the fast and flexible service when it comes to maintenance and repairs. The robust Vario large van is now also available with powerful diesel engines featuring Blue-Tec 4 technology. The AdBlue tank's capacity of 18 litres means it only needs filling roughly once every three refuelling stops.
The Mercedes-Benz Econic, too, has been available with Euro 4-compliant diesel engines based on the innovative Blue-Tec technology since October 1, 2006. In the Econic too, this technology reduces not only exhaust emissions but also fuel consumption. Since July 2006 all Unimog vehicles have likewise been equipped with this advanced, eco-friendly technology, raising the high technical standard of the Unimog even further. On expeditions, in particular, one of the benefits of Blue-Tec technology for the Unimog is that it does not require the use of low-sulphur fuel.
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