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The SLS AMG E-CELL body shell being shown by Mercedes-Benz AMG at the IAA 2011 is one trailblazing outcome of its ambitious "AMG Lightweight Performance" design strategy. Its key element is a transmission tunnel made out of lightweight carbon-fibre composite material (CFRP), which is structurally integrated into the aluminium body shell and firmly bonded with it. The high-strength and stiff CFRP component helps to reduce weight, while also serving as a monocoque housing for the battery modules. The carbon-fibre battery monocoque in the SLS AMG E-CELL forms an integral part of the body shell and acts as the vehicle's "spine". The advantages of carbon composite materials were specifically exploited by the AMG engineers in its design. These include their high strength, which makes it possible to create extremely rigid structures in terms of torsion and bending, excellent crash performance and low weight. CFRP components are up to 50 percent lighter than comparable ...

Mercedes-Benz will be presenting its first electric vehicle with Range Extender at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show in the guise of the Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS. The combination of electric drive and petrol engine ensures excellent suitability for both everyday use and long journeys. The energy accumulator takes the form of a lithium-ion battery from Deutsche Accumotive, which enables local emission-free driving up to a range of 100 kilometres. Thanks to the additional three-cylinder petrol engine, the Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS has a total range of up to 600 km. The concept vehicle presented at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show provides a foretaste of the series which is to go into production in 2014. The Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS adds an all-purpose battery-powered vehicle with Range Extender to Mercedes-Benz's range of electric vehicles. A new addition to Mercedes-Benz's portfolio of electric cars is the near-series Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS – a ...

Robert Bosch GmbH and Daimler AG have concluded negotiations and signed an agreement for the establishment of a 50:50 joint venture. The aim of the joint venture is to develop and manufacture electric motors. The contract is subject to approval by the responsible antitrust authorities. The new company will operate under the name EM-motive GmbH. It will be headquartered in Hildesheim, where a manufacturing site will also be located. The joint venture’s development site will be located in the Stuttgart area, where both parent companies are headquartered. Some 100 associates will begin working for the joint venture in the fourth quarter of 2011. EM-motive GmbH will be headed by two executives of equal status from each of the parent companies. The cooperation between Bosch and Daimler in the area of e-mobility aims to pool expertise and utilize synergies to speed up the development of high-quality traction machines for electric vehicles with batteries, fuel cells or range extenders. Wolf-H...

Mercedes tuner Brabus is bringing a few cars to the Frankfurt motor show, but instead of fire-breathing, gas-drinking supercars, they're electric. The company that brought us the 738-hp Brabus SL600 and the 788-hp Brabus S600 R is turning its considerable tuning powers to low-emission luxury cars--for now. Brabus Zero Emission, the alternative-drive side of the Brabus business, will have two prototypes on display at the Frankfurt show. The first is a version of the European Mercedes E220 diesel called Technology Project Hybrid. It uses two electric motors at the wheel hubs to keep fuel economy up. The second is an all-electric version of the sedan with four wheel-hub motors and 2,360 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. The Technology Project Hybrid from Brabus has a direct-injection, 2.2-liter common-rail diesel engine with two supplemental hub motors from English manufacturer Protean Electric. Those motors produce 67 hp each in normal mode and 107 hp each when the sport button is press...

A promotional video has now been released of the Daimler and BASF developed Smart Forvision EV concept vehicle that we reported earlier this week.

Daimler and BASF have developed a new concept vehicle that combines both companies' ideas for holistic electric mobility. The resulting vehicle is the smart forvision, which has been developed with a special emphasis on energy efficiency, temperature management and lightweight design. The smart forvision will have its world premiere at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Both Daimler and BASF are engaged in wide-ranging research and development work aimed at getting electric cars on the road and ensuring that electric mobility becomes part of everyday life as soon as possible. Daimler is embracing the age of electric mobility: it is the first car manufacturer to have released four electric production models, and its smart fortwo electric drive is a pioneer among battery-driven vehicles. BASF, the world's largest supplier of chemical products to the automotive industry, develops sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions for the energy-efficient mobility of tomo...