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AMG SLS E CELL
eddie99 - 22/6/10 at 09:17 AM

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/06/mercedes-benz-sls-amg-e-cell-prototype.html

What do you all think?

coozer - 22/6/10 at 09:19 AM

Not keen on the gull wing doors but it does look very nice indeed... conventional doors and a V8 please

blakep82 - 22/6/10 at 09:24 AM

Yes! especially the gull wing doors. and with a proper engine
(ie, the one thats been about for a couple of years now, and the F1 pace car )

[Edited on 22/6/10 by blakep82]

55ant - 22/6/10 at 09:24 AM

car is smart, its going to take some time to get used to a bunch of ugly black boxes under the bonnet.

MakeEverything - 22/6/10 at 09:26 AM

hate it, AND its a mercedes.

It will brake down every 5 miles.

peteday_uk@btinternet.com - 22/6/10 at 09:38 AM

Did I read that right. It's an all electric car that charges itself under braking?

speedyxjs - 22/6/10 at 09:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by peteday_uk@btinternet.com
Did I read that right. It's an all electric car that charges itself under braking?


Thats what i was thinking. what if you are doing a long motorway drive and no braking for a few hours (obviously this would be impossible on uk motorways )

tomprescott - 22/6/10 at 09:48 AM

Yep Mercedes have finally achieved perpetual motion!

MikeRJ - 22/6/10 at 09:58 AM

quote:

Thats what i was thinking. what if you are doing a long motorway drive and no braking for a few hours (obviously this would be impossible on uk motorways )


This is just for energy recovery in order to extend the range as much as possible when the car is used in start/stop conditions. The Prius and Insight hybrids also use this technique. Obviously the battery would still need to be recharged regularly.

[Edited on 22/6/10 by MikeRJ]

eddie99 - 22/6/10 at 10:04 AM

I guess the charging under braking is just to top up and to extend range. Bit like KERS in F1, brake power extracted.

Ninehigh - 22/6/10 at 10:10 AM

I like the way there's no mention of range, not even an estimate. And once you've run out of electricity how long does it take to charge?

skinned knuckles - 22/6/10 at 10:13 AM

it always amazes me that these manufacturers dont make the bodywork from photovoltaic cells. this would extend the range of the car considerably and it would continue to charge when you parked up. night driving would be a bit of a problem though. may not be as pretty as painted bodywork but a dam sight more efficient.

MikeRJ - 22/6/10 at 10:23 AM

quote:
Originally posted by skinned knuckles
it always amazes me that these manufacturers dont make the bodywork from photovoltaic cells. this would extend the range of the car considerably and it would continue to charge when you parked up. night driving would be a bit of a problem though. may not be as pretty as painted bodywork but a dam sight more efficient.


They are expensive, very fragile, they have low efficiency and their efficiency degrades over life. I doubt you would get enough energy out of an entire car covered in them to justify the cost and complexity.

The solar racers make a lot of compromises in order to get a useful amount of energy from the cells; ultra light construction, very low and flat bodywork to maximise area and minimise drag, very narrow tyres to minimise rolling resistance etc. Oh and they run in Austrailia, not in the UK

James - 22/6/10 at 10:54 AM

quote:
Originally posted by eddie99
I guess the charging under braking is just to top up and to extend range. Bit like KERS in F1, brake power extracted.



Except that apart from Williams horrible flywheel system they all do it by raising engine revs during braking. The braking doesn't actually cause anything to be charged, it just gives an opportunity for the engine to be charging the batteries instead of powering the car!

Cheers,
James

skinned knuckles - 22/6/10 at 11:21 AM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by skinned knuckles
it always amazes me that these manufacturers dont make the bodywork from photovoltaic cells. this would extend the range of the car considerably and it would continue to charge when you parked up. night driving would be a bit of a problem though. may not be as pretty as painted bodywork but a dam sight more efficient.


They are expensive, very fragile, they have low efficiency and their efficiency degrades over life. I doubt you would get enough energy out of an entire car covered in them to justify the cost and complexity.

The solar racers make a lot of compromises in order to get a useful amount of energy from the cells; ultra light construction, very low and flat bodywork to maximise area and minimise drag, very narrow tyres to minimise rolling resistance etc. Oh and they run in Austrailia, not in the UK


i agree on many points but:-

just using the flat surfaces of an average type car you could expect 200w in full sun. Although the UK has rubbish weather the car could be charged enough to add a few % on to its range. in a decent climate you could b looking at 10% (my calculations could be out a bit and i am happy to be corrected) although its range would in theory be limited only by the time you have to complete your journey.

the price would come down if they were produced on a larger scale and with a bit more investment in R&D i'm certain that efficiency and their frigility could be improved a little.

JoelP - 22/6/10 at 06:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
I like the way there's no mention of range, not even an estimate. And once you've run out of electricity how long does it take to charge?


They never mention range because its always awful! And your house supply probably couldnt charge it overnight.

eddie99 - 23/6/10 at 02:51 PM

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=22110

Charge time 1 hour 150km range or so. I say thats pretty damn good!

Ninehigh - 23/6/10 at 06:26 PM

What's that in real distance, 80 miles ish? Not bad

eddie99 - 23/6/10 at 06:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
What's that in real distance, 80 miles ish? Not bad


93miles to be precise!