Next month, an enhanced BlueEFFICIENCY package will be introduced.  A new generator management system will help to reduce fuel consumption in the Mercedes-Benz Vito and Viano in September 2011.

Effective new feature

During braking, the new generator management system converts part of the kinetic energy produced into electric energy, which is then stored in the battery. Feeding this additional energy into the system means that the alternator can be restricted under certain operating conditions, as it is during acceleration, so reducing the strain on the combustion engine.

The intelligent alternator works independently and, as far as the driver is concerned, imperceptibly. The power electronics increase the alternator voltage as needed to ensure fast recharging of the battery. The technical term used here is recuperation, a process that uses kinetic energy that would otherwise dissipate into the atmosphere as heat given off from the wheel brakes.

BlueEFFICIENCY, and thus also the new generator management system, is part of the standard specification for the Viano, the Vito crewbus and for every Vito model with passenger car type approval.

Into the future with BlueEFFICIENCY

BlueEFFICIENCY was developed by Mercedes-Benz as part of its efforts to shape the future of mobility in a responsible and sustainable manner. The term encompasses a series of intelligent and innovative technologies that work together in such a way as to give noticeable reductions in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. The scope of the efficiency package includes, amongst other elements: an economical 4-cylinder CDI diesel engine in two output variants, a state-of-the-art V6 CDI diesel engine (with automatic transmission), consumption-optimised ECO Gear 6-speed manual transmission and further fuel economy measures, depending on the model.