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TECHNICITY

MAGAZINE
FOR
INNOVATION
TECHNOLOGY
MOBILITY

ISSUE 01 2010
MAGAZINE FOR INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY MOBILITY
E- CITY BERLIN
TECHNICITY
A network in the German capital
is shaping the future of electric mobility

TECHNICITY THE DIGITAL WORLD MOBILITY CONCEPTS ISSUE


MAGAZINE Why digital development processes are fundamentally How major cities all over the world are reacting rapidly 01 2010
FOR changing the way we live and work. and efficiently to mobility bottlenecks.
INNOVATION
ISSN 2190-0523

6.50 EUR
TECHNOLOGY
MOBILITY
INNOVATION PROCESSES CAR OF THE FUTURE 9.00
10.00
USD
CHF
How networked creative processes are generating Why intelligent research vehicles are already having a 6.00 GBP
high-tech applications in innovation regions. major impact on the future of the automobile. 60.50 CNY

A publication of Daimler AG
© Stuttgart 2010 DAIMLER-TECHNICITY.COM

100310_T_Cover_E_RZ.indd 1 23.03.10 11:34


PoST-oIl cITy
i

Abbildung: © LAVA/atelier illume | Gestaltung: Philippa Walz, Andreas Opiolka, Stuttgart


dIe STadT
nach dem Öl
Die Geschichte Der Zukunft Der staDt
the history of the city of the future
Schauplatz Natur / ON Stage: Nature
ifa-Galerie Berlin | Linienstraße 139/140 | 10115 Berlin 23. 4. – 18. 7. 2010
Fon +49/(0)30/28 44 91 40 | Eintritt frei / free admission | www.ifa.de
mit freundlicher Unterstützung von / with the friendly assistance of
in Kooperation mit / in cooperation with

TECHNICITY
Aside from the novelty, inventiveness, and commercial
applicability associated with an innovation, its technological
strengths determine whether it will be patented.

Anzeige POC_2.indd 1 18.03.2010 10:03:07 Uhr

100310_T_Cover_E_RZ.indd 2 18.03.10 14:05


TECHNOLOGY  The hydrogen
filler neck of a Mercedes-Benz
B-Class F-CELL with fuel cell
drive in action in Berlin.

Technicity_03-05_Editorial_E.indd 1 30.03.10 08:04


E-CITY  The expansion of electric
mobility in Berlin is being driven by a
complex network that links politics,
business, and science.

4 T

Technicity_03-05_Editorial_E.indd 2 30.03.10 08:04


HIGH-TECH NETWoRk
oF THE FUTURE

FOR ALMOST 125 YEARS,  we have been driven by “a passion


for invention,” as Carl Benz once put it. In line with this tradi-
tion, the pioneering achievements of our engineers have set
benchmarks that fascinate our customers all over the world.
TECHNOLOGY  The automobile of the And that same pioneering spirit will enable us to once again
future will be based on a multitude of win the race for the reinvention of the automobile.
innovations. The new research vehicle In TECHNICITY, the new Daimler magazine for innovation,
from Mercedes-Benz, the F800 Style, technology, and mobility, we will therefore be bringing you re-
offers a technological synthesis of ports about intelligent high-tech applications, urban mobility
drive, safety, design, and comfort solutions, technology and innovation processes, and the latest
systems. Page 52 trends in creativity and innovation. The fascination of our prod-
ucts and our “passion for invention” will be our criteria. You
can look forward to reading about our intense involvement in
innovative projects all over the world.
At the moment we’re looking expectantly toward Berlin,
where a unique network that links politics, business, and sci-
ence is shaping the future of the automobile. Through the mo-
TALENT  A Daimler research group
bility project known as E-MOBILITY we are setting the course
has been developing future scenarios
for the future, because this pilot project in the German capital
for more than 30 years. It investigates
brings together many innovations that will be crucial to the fu-
the trends that will shape the
ture success of electric mobility.
markets of tomorrow. Its focus is
Many high-tech applications are also combined in our
context-oriented, forward-looking,
latest research vehicle, the F800 STYLE, which provides us
interdisciplinary, and international.
with a glimpse of tomorrow’s premium automobiles. Here too,
Page 62
Berlin has been a pool of creative innovations. For the last 30
years, a Berlin-based Daimler research group has been ana-
lyzing social, political, economic, and automotive trends and
combining them to form FUTURE SCENARIOS. We’ve been
able to incorporate their conclusions into the F800 Style.
At present, we are facing a wide range of challenges. Ac-
TOLERANCE  Urbanization poses
cording to UN estimates, more than six billion people will be
tremendous challenges to city
living, working, and moving around in cities by the year 2050.
planners and operators of local
In response to this development, we are actively shaping future
public transport systems. The rapidly
mobility by coming up with innovative solutions. For example,
growing metropolis of Istanbul
the problem of “gridlock” in many rapidly growing major cities
(Turkey) has found a fast and efficient
can be quickly and efficiently solved with BUS RAPID TRAN-
mobility concept to cope with this
SIT SYSTEMS (BRT).
development. Page 80

In this issue you’ll find out more about this and many other
intriguing topics.

Pleasant reading!

Sincerely,
Thomas Weber

Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group


Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development

DAIMLER-TECHNICITY.COM 5

Technicity_03-05_Editorial_E.indd 3 30.03.10 08:04


10 80
Knowledge Network Mobility Concepts

52
Car of the Future

40
Innovation Processes

24
E-CIty BErlIN

Berlin is bringing the future of sustainable


mobility into the present:
• PartNErshIPs: How infrastructure deter-
mines success. Page 24
• BaCKgrouNd: The electric mobility net-
work — putting the pieces together. Page 25
• FuEl: Is hydrogen the fuel of the future?
Page 27
• ExPErt oPINIoN: Herbert Kohler talks
about the technological challenges involved.
Page 34

6 T

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INDEX

09 51 79
TEchNoloGy TalENT TolEraNcE
New technologies are not only the indis- “Attracting talented employees is the In addition to being crucial to the eco-
pensable driver of innovations and prog- key to business success,” says the nomic growth of large cities, tolerance,
ress in the 21st century – they’re also U.S. economist Richard Florida. Creative openness, and cultural diversity are an
exciting, electrifying, and fascinating. people are defining the future. expression of the new urban lifestyle.

10 52 80
Knowledge Network Car of the Future Mobility Concepts
Engineers and developers are using a global Why smart research vehicles are already Urbanization poses tremendous challenges
knowledge network to generate new ideas. having a major impact on the future of the for city planners and operators of local
At the Competence Center for Emission-free automobile. They are simultaneously the public transport systems. Bus Rapid Transit
Mobility (KEM) in Mannheim, they adapt trendsetters and the test platforms for new (BRT) systems can help to solve traffic
their solutions to create even more efficient technologies. problems quickly and efficiently.
and environmentally friendly vehicles.
62 88
18 Future-oriented research digital World
spEcTruM Futurologists are helping companies to Realistic images produced by computers
paint scenarios and predict likely trends in are inspiring architects and artists, helping
tomorrow’s world. One of their tasks is to doctors make diagnoses, and reducing the
investigate the developments that will shape time that engineers spend on test tracks.
24 future markets. Their focus is context- The virtual world has fundamentally changed
E-CIty BErlIN oriented, forward-looking, interdisciplinary, the way we live and work.
and international.
Electric mobility in the network
of the future. 96
In the German capital the course is being 68 DIGITal
set for the future of electric mobility. design Position
Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at
Mercedes-Benz, talks about methodology,
97
40 “green thinking,” and urban design.
IMprINT aND coNTacT
Innovation Processes
A success story about the strategic partner-
ship and exchange of ideas between Apple 70 98
projEcTor
and Mercedes-Benz in Silicon Valley. METropolIs

48 74
aNaloGy TraNsfEr
“Two billion vehicles aren’t a catastrophe.”
Dan Sperling, a transportation expert and
author from California, talks about sustain-
able mobility.

78
scalE

DAIMLER-TECHNICITY.COM 7

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A Daimler Brand

• Kunde: Mercedes-Benz
“Oh Lord …”

• 215 x 280 mm
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. www.mercedes-benz.com/sls-amg

• Jung v. Matt

Fuel consumption urban/extra-urban/combined: 19.9/9.3/13.2 l/100 km; combined CO emissions: 308 g/km.
The figures do not express any description of the emissions or fuel consumption of a car, are not part of any offer, and are intended to compare types of vehicles only.

Technicity_08-09_Opener_E.indd 8 30.03.10 10:23


• Titel/Objekt: Hightech Report englisch
• Produkt: SLS Front „Oh Lord“
• Kunde: Mercedes-Benz
• 215 x 280 mm

• 4c

• 13404/18/10001/16
• DTP Thomas -1144
• Jung v. Matt

successive collective innovative

all over the world, engineers and developers are working on environmentally friendly drive
system solutions, such as natural gas and hybrid drives, in order to reach the target of zero-
emission mobility in successive stages. (Page 10)

in Berlin, political decision-makers and companies are working hand in hand to redefine the
future of electric mobility. it’s clear that only through collective action can we solve the
technological challenges of electric mobility and achieve our economic goals in the future.
(Page 24)

Products from apple and mercedes-Benz have a lot in common: They are innovative,
have a stylish design, and can be applied in a number of highly individual ways depending on
the customer’s specific requirements. The success story of the integration of the iPhone into
the mercedes-Benz S-class shows how these qualities are complementing one another in a
cooperative innovation process in Silicon Valley. (Page 40)

Daimler-TechniciTy.com 9

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 TexT   PhoTograPhy  
 Björn Lohmann   Henrik Spohler 

KEM  The drive of the future could soon emerge as an alternative to conventional  
 combustion engines. But what will it look like? A visit to the Competence 
Ω

 Center for Emission-free Mobility (KEM) in Mannheim shows that many routes  
 can lead to environmentally friendly drive systems. 

10

Technicity_10-17_Standort_KEM_E.indd 2 30.03.10 10:24


PARAMETER

NaMe: KEM (Competence Center for Emission-free Mobility)


FouNded IN: 1994
eMPloyees: approx. 80
ProducTIoN: approx. 6,000 vehicles in 2009
locaTIoN: Plant Halls 55/56 and 67

Waldheim

KeM Berlin
MaNNheIM

Leipzig

Rhine
Frankfurt

MaNNheIM

Stuttgart

ThINK local 
The facility in Mannheim benefits from its proximity to other 
Daimler plants and is at the same time part of the worldwide 
competence network for alternative drive systems.

Mercedes-BeNZ VehIcles deVeloPed aT The KeM

Econic NGT
Atego 1217 Hybrid
E 200 NGT
Citaro FuelCELL
Atego BlueTec Hybrid
B180 NGT
Sprinter NGT
Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid
Plug-in Sprinter Hybrid
NEBUS with fuel cell
Vito with electric drive

    JuIce Box  At the heart of hybrid vehicles is the battery, 
which is installed in Mercedes-Benz cars and commercial vehicles at 
the Competence Center for Emission-free Mobility in Mannheim.

11

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MICROSCOPE

NaTural gas TechNology (NgT)
Trucks transport Mercedes-Benz B-Class vehicle bod-
ies in groups of eight from their production location 
to the competence center in Mannheim, Germany. 
Employees at the KEM inspect the vehicles to 
determine if damage has occurred during transport, 
after which the bodies are forwarded to the produc-
tion line. The technicians then connect the pressure 
regulator to the engine circulation system. Finally, 
they install the compressed gas cylinders underneath 
the spare tire well and the driver area. 
  Both of the gas tanks are made at the KEM, 
where they are assembled from valves, compressed 
gas pipes, fuses, and other components. They have 
a very sophisticated design based on plastic covered 
with glass fibers and carbon fibers. This makes the 
tanks as stable as their steel counterparts previously 
used, even though they weigh much less and thus 
produce significantly lower emissions.

    sTePPINg oN The gas A Mercedes-Benz 
B-Class NGT equipped with gas tanks underneath the 
vehicle floor exits Hall 67 at the Mannheim plant.

12

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13

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    hall 67  The Competence Center for Emission-free Mobility 
at the Mannheim Mercedes-Benz plant refits Sprinter and B-Class 
vehicles for natural gas operation. An additional hall is being 
planned to meet the growing demand.

14

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15

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CHRONICLE

eFFIcIeNT drIVes FroM Mercedes-BeNZ
1996  Vario 814 D van with hybrid drive
     Vito compact van with electric drive
1997   NEBUS bus with fuel cell drive
      T1 410 van with electric drive and zinc-oxide 
batteries
1998   Atego 1217 with hybrid drive
      Sprinter NGT compact van with natural gas 
drive (market launch)
2000  V
  ito with electric drive at EXPO 2000 in 
Hanover
2001  S
  printer with fuel cell drive (test vehicle)
2003   C
  itaro FuelCELL bus with fuel cell drive 
    (small batch)
     Econic NGT truck with natural gas drive
     Sprinter with liquefied petroleum gas drive
2004   Atego 1217 truck with hybrid drive
      Sprinter with hybrid drive and nickel metal 
hydride batteries (prototype)
    Sprinter hybrid with plug-in technology
      E-Class 200 NGT with natural gas drive 
    (start of series production)
2007   Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid (prototype)
     Sprinter Hybrid (prototype)
2008   B-Classww 180 NGT (prototype)
    Sprinter 316/516 NGT (prototype)
2009   C
  itaro FuelCELL Hybrid 
(participation in prototype creation)
      Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid 
    (participation in prototype creation)
     Atego BlueTec Hybrid (prototypes)
2010  Atego BlueTec Hybrid (innovation fleet)
     E 200 NGT (start of series production)

    suPPly lINes  A box full of gas lines 
for installation into the natural gas-powered 
Mercedes-Benz B-Class. 

16 T

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 The Competence Center for Emission-free Mobility in Mannheim is an example  
 of how synergies are exploited at Daimler and how technology is transferred  
 smoothly worldwide in the quest to develop more-efficient drives. 

susTaINaBle  MoBIlITy  Commercial  vehicles  from  Daimler  are  As  a  result,  the  KEM  is  now  firmly  integrated  into  Daimler’s  global 
used  all  over  the  world.  They  are  produced  at  numerous  plants  in  development and production network. The KEM is also an important 
many countries, including the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Thai- partner for the Hybrid Development Center in Stuttgart, which adapts 
land,  and  Turkey.  Another  important  location  is  Mannheim,  where  international strategies to the needs of the German market and mod-
the engine plant also houses a small but effective facility that equips  els. The KEM is therefore a living example of the how synergies are 
Daimler  vehicles  with  sustainable  drive  systems:  The  Competence  exploited within the Group and of the smooth transfer of technology 
Center for Emission-free Mobility, which is known by its German ac- between the divisions. 
ronym KEM.    This  versatility  and  high  standard  of  innovation  place  great  de-
  The KEM is part of the Local Application Center in Germany. To- mands on the KEM’s employees and equipment. The center’s some 
gether with other centers, such as the one in redford, U.S., it forms  80  skilled  workers  and  engineers  need  to  be  familiar  not  only  with 
a network that cooperates closely with the Global Hybrid Center in  internal combustion engines but also with natural gas, liquefied pe-
Kawasaki, Japan. The latter manages all of Daimler Trucks’ hybrid ac- troleum  gas,  high-voltage  engineering,  and  hydrogen.  it’s  ultimately 
tivities worldwide. The centers’ mission is to help achieve sustainable  thanks to its specialists that the KEM, which is actually part of a com-
mobility by developing low-emission and zero-emission vehicles — and  mercial vehicle plant, can now produce passenger cars with sustain-
to introduce these vehicles onto the market.  able  drive  systems.  The  KEM  manufactured  around  6,000  vehicles 
  There is no single clear-cut path to success here, which is why  last  year  and  has  the  capacity  to  produce  more  than  10,000  units 
Daimler’s road to Emission-free Mobility initiative envisages a three- annually even though it does not operate robots.
fold strategy: Daimler primarily uses electric drives in city cars such    The  center’s  activities  will  be  further  expanded  in  the  coming 
as the smart, because of the limited range involved. Another develop- years in line with the growing importance of efficient and environmen-
ment  focus  is  hybrid  drives,  which  are  particularly  effective  in  city  tally  friendly  drive  systems,  says  Hermann  Doppler,  who  is  Head  of 
and regional traffic. Here they can be used, for example, for medium- Worldwide Truck Engine Production and is also responsible for man-
range distribution. Some 2,700 Orion hybrid buses and 550 Freight- aging the Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim: “The KEM strategy will 
liner hybrid trucks are already on the road in the U.S., and around  remain the same,” he says. “We aim to develop the best low-emission 
800 hybrid light trucks and buses from Mitsubishi Fuso are in opera- drive system for all of our customers’ needs.” 
tion in Japan.    Actually, the KEM will begin to produce an innovative fleet of 50 
  All forecasts predict that the internal combustion engine will con- Mercedes-Benz Atego BlueTec Hybrid trucks that customers will intro-
tinue  to  be  the  dominant  drive  system  for  many  years  to  come.  in  duce into their everyday operations at the end of the year. in addition, 
response, Daimler is continuously optimizing this technology. To date,  series production of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class 200 NGT will com-
the company has put more than 290,000 commercial vehicles with  mence in the fourth quarter of 2010. •
Daimler  CleanDrive-Technologies  and  13,000  commercial  vehicles 
with sustainable drive systems on the road. Many of these vehicles 
originated in Mannheim.  HYPERLINK
  When it was founded in 1994, the Competence Center for Emis-
sion-free Commercial Vehicles, which would later become the KEM,  You’ll find further information related to this article at:
still had the air of an inventor’s workshop and focused on the devel-
opment of commercial vehicles. Specially trained employees at the 
center  picked  up  new  ideas  that  quickly  paid  off.  in  1996,  for  ex-
ample, Deutsche Post DHL ordered an innovative fleet of 50 electric  daimler-technicity.com/technologyandinnovation
Sprinter vans. including the following features:
  Basically,  the  sustainable  drive  technology  used  in  commercial  1. interview with Plant Director Hermann Doppler
vehicles is similar to that used in passenger cars. Given this fact and  2. Daimler commercial vehicles with alternative drives
the knowledge that the Mannheim center brings together experts and  3. The workflow of the Competence Center for Emission-free Mobility
technical equipment, Daimler decided to expand the KEM’s activities  4. Photo gallery of the KEM at Mannheim
to  include  passenger  cars  such  as  the  Mercedes-Benz  B-Class  and 
the E-Class NGT. The KEM’s proximity to the Daimler plants in Wörth, 
rastatt, and Sindelfingen creates logistical advantages and makes it 
possible to work on cars, trucks, vans, and buses.

DAiMLEr-TECHNiCiTy.COM 17

Technicity_10-17_Standort_KEM_E.indd 9 30.03.10 10:25


SPECTRUM

tokyo, Japan Anyone who tends to get confused when negotiating with Japanese business
representatives might want to try out the new interpreter glasses from the Japanese electron-
ics company NEC. The glasses, which simultaneously translate spoken words, have a built-in
headset and voice recognition software that first converts speech into text, which is then
translated by a translation program. A mini-projector projects the translation onto the retina
of the person wearing the glasses, making it appear like a subtitle.
NEC says the glasses are particularly useful for confidential discussions when both parties
prefer not to have an interpreter present. Plans call for the Babel glasses to be launched in
Japan before the year is out. nec.com

interpreter New glasses from NEC translate


spoken language into readable texts.

asia HIGH-TECH NEWS FROM AN INNOVATIVE REGION


“Having equipped hybrid vehicles with storage batteries, Asian
engineers are now installing them in ships and trains. Soon it will
be hard to imagine our civilization without rechargeable batteries.”
Martin Fritz, TECHNICITY correspondent, Tokyo

singapore, singapore Motion detectors


for lighting systems, waterless urinals, park-
ing lots with charging stations for electric
seoul, south korea tokyo, Japan
cars — these are just a few of the highlights at
City Square Mall, Singapore’s first ecology-
taipeh, taiwan
based shopping center.
The new mall produces 5,700 tons less
carbon dioxide per year than a similar stan-
dard building complex. The reduction is due
in no small part to a greened roof outfitted Chutung hsinChu, taiwan
with solar cells and a rain collector.
zdnetasia.com

taipei, taiwan Recycling CDs and DVDs


used to mean nothing more than shredding
them. Now, scientists from Da-Yeh University
in Taiwan have developed a procedure that
uses caustics to remove all coatings on the
polycarbonate discs, which can then be re- singapore, singapore
coated.
Such recycled discs still cost three times
more than those made of new plastic. How-
ever, the procedure pays off for the environ-
ment, as 60 million CDs and DVDs are thrown
away in Taiwan alone each year.
etaiwannews.com

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PERSPECTIVES
martin fritz
Asia correspondent and
author who has been
working in Tokyo for the
German public broadcast
tokyo, Japan Two-wheel Segway vehicles
service since 2001.
are becoming a more familiar sight in big cit-
ies, where even police now use them. The
units, which never fall over, are operated reChargeable batteries from asia
through shifts in their drivers’ weight. Honda It appears that a new energy era is dawning
is now demonstrating how the same effect in East Asia: the age of rechargeable bat-
can be achieved with just one wheel. The teries. Panasonic — the world’s leading
U3-X looks like the number 8, whereby the manufacturer of such batteries — recently
bottom is a wheel and the top a seat cushion. installed a rechargeable electrical energy
No special skills are needed to operate the source in an eco-friendly housing complex.
unit, which balances itself. The unit stores enough energy to supply a
The compact U3-X weighs only ten kilo- household with electricity for an entire
grams. Its rechargeable battery can power week. Homeowners generate the energy
it for one hour, long enough for a little trip with solar cells or fuel cells, thereby signifi-
through town, which is exactly what develop- cantly lowering the emissions of harmful
ers had in mind. After all, with a top speed of greenhouse gases. The new smart power
six kilometers per hour, the machine is about grids that are appearing also rely on re-
as fast as a pedestrian. The U3-X is not for chargeable battery systems. For example,
sale yet, as it will initially serve as a develop- Japanese high-performance batteries with
ment platform for future power unicycles. sodium-sulfur cells will be storing up to
world.honda.com 10 megawatts generated by a wind power
facility on the Orkney Islands in the UK.
With the advent of such technology, it will
seoul, south korea The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning finally be possible to use eco-friendly
(KISTEP) has produced a list of the next decade’s ten most important technologies. The list, electricity even when the sun isn’t shining
which was compiled by 54 experts, is headed by portable computers that can be embedded or the wind isn’t blowing. Rechargeable
into clothing and 3D displays capable of producing 3D images that can be viewed without spe- batteries are also making our world more
cial glasses. The top ten technologies also include robot nurses, single vaccines for multiple mobile. Whether it’s cell phones, netbooks,
illnesses, and new-generation nuclear reactors. or tablet PCs — low-consumption circuits
The experts say that because the speed of innovation is accelerating it’s becoming increas- and powerful batteries are enabling por-
ingly difficult to make predictions. However, according to the KISTEP scientists, such predic- table electronic devices to operate longer
tions are important if Korea is to remain on top of key major trends. koreatimes.co.kr and longer. Investors are also getting
excited. After all, battery manufacturers
like China’s BYD (Build Your Dreams) and
Japan’s K. K. GS Yuasa Corporation (the
Chutung hsinChu, taiwan The Wall largest Asian producer of car batteries)
Street Journal has granted a first 2009 Tech- expect to post phenomenal rates of growth.
nology Innovation Award to the fleXpeaker. Millions of electric mopeds whose nickel-
The product’s name says it all, as fleXpeaker metal hydride batteries allow speeds of up
is a flexible loudspeaker that looks like a per- to 25 km/h have all but replaced Mao
forated sheet of paper and is only one milli- bicycles in China. A hybrid truck developed
meter thick. As a result, it will be possible to by Daimler subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso is an
produce extremely compact flexible speakers international sales hit, and hardly a day
in all shapes and sizes for use in cell phones, goes by without rechargeable batteries
automobiles, and even furniture. Other at- making the headlines. For example, it was
flexpeaker A loudspeaker as thin and flexible as tractive potential applications include talking recently reported that use of a silicon
a piece of paper is attracting industry’s attention. posters and cereal boxes. electrode has led to a 20 percent increase
fleXpeaker was developed by the Indus- in lithium-ion battery charging capacity.
trial Technology Research Institute in Taiwan, Japanese scientists have also developed a
which holds 45 patents related to this tech- flexible lithium polymer battery that can be
nology. The institute is now looking for part- printed. Having equipped hybrid vehicles
ners to help with commercial production — with storage batteries, Asian engineers are
for example, companies that can print thin now installing them in ships and trains.
metal coatings onto paper. itri.org.tw Soon it will be hard to imagine our civiliza-
tion without rechargeable batteries.

19
DAIMLER-TECHNICITY.COM

Technicity_18-23_Spektrum_E.indd 3 30.03.10 10:27


SPECTRUM

north ameriCa HIGH-TECH NEWS FROM AN INNOVATIVE REGION


“The boundaries between text, sound, and images are becoming fuzzy,
and the distinction between one’s own data and information obtained
from afar is vanishing.”
SteFFan Heuer, TECHNICITY correspondent, San Francisco

san franCisCo, u.s.

app for the nose Smartphones may soon be equipped with a


“scent unit” that amplifies olfactory signals.

los angeles, u.s. There’s already an app for practi-


los angeles, u.s. cally everything — so how about one for an “electronic
nose” that could be integrated in iPhones or other cell
phones? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security re-
cently announced the creation of a new research pro-
washington, u.s.
gram whose aim is to develop small and inexpensive
chemical sensors that can be installed in conventional
cell phones. The sensors will enable electronic civil de-
fense teams to detect dangerous chemicals and auto-
matically sound an alarm in Washington. Three projects
from California were selected out of 100 proposals.
They have already developed prototypes that include a
small 20 x 20-millimeter integrated nanochip whose
components can sniff out and analyze chemicals.
washington, u.s. Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) will receive some In another useful development, Aydogan Ozcan,
$40 million in funding through the 21st Century Truck Technology Partnership a professor at the University of California Los Angeles
program. DTNA will use the money from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to (UCLA), has come up with a software-hardware package
further develop commercial vehicles and engines. that makes it possible to turn a normal cell phone into
Altogether, the DOE is providing $115 million for nine exceptional emission- a microscope for just $10. In Ozcan’s vision, any cell
reduction research projects that are being carried out by U.S. commercial vehicle phone can be quickly converted into a medical instru-
manufacturers. The largest sum will be allocated to DTNA, which plans to imple- ment that can not only analyze a drop of blood at any
ment a five-year research and development program. The aim is to demonstrate, location, but also automatically alarm a lab if the reading
among other things, how the freight efficiency of a truck with over 15 tons GVW deviates from the norm. Such a device would be ideal in
can be increased by 50 percent. Work will focus on the development of state-of- developing countries, where cell phone networks are
the-art vehicle systems and engine technologies. eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels more advanced than health care systems.
public.cq.com, innovate.ee.ucla.edu

20 T

Technicity_18-23_Spektrum_E.indd 4 30.03.10 10:27


PERSPECTIVES
steffan heuer
U.S. correspondent for
brand eins and the
German edition of Tech-
nology Review. Areas
of expertise: high-tech
and economics.

the year of the tablet The vision put autoenergetiC Chip Implanted sensor chips could provide important data on
forth years ago by Microsoft founder Bill patients’ health in the future.
Gates will finally become a reality in 2010:
Small light tablet computers are now on washington, u.s. Electrical engineers at the University of Wash-
the march. Even if Apple’s iPad has stolen ington have developed a sensor chip for implantation in patients that
the show from dozens of competitors, it is has several very attractive features. Not only does it require no inter-
by no means the only device that is chang- nal energy source; it can also be read wirelessly and recharged at a
ing the world of work and entertainment. distance of up to one meter. The chip was first tested with a moth to
Together with “cloud computing” (data and investigate the insect’s nervous system while it moved its wings.
computing over the airwaves), tablet com- The sensor chip requiring no battery has commercial potential for
puters will elegantly and innovatively close medical and other applications that involve extensive measurements,
the gap between smartphones, stationary because it can be accessed and charged using conventional RFID
PCs, and consumer electronic devices. devices. Up until now, implantable microprocessors for retinas or ears
Renowned manufacturers are already have been operated using an inductive link whose energy source can
demonstrating how families will look at only be located a few centimeters away. technologyreview.com
vacation photos and watch TV shows in the
future, how scientists will carry presenta-
tions and speeches around with them, how
reneWaBle PetrOleuM
students will read a new generation of text- PrODuCtS
books and write papers with new devices, • Fuels
• Chemicals
and how service providers will get their
services to the customer. This year four
million tablet PCs will be sold along with FattY aCiDS
more than 55 million netbooks and nearly
250 million smartphones — and the num-
bers are rising fast.
Much more important than the techni- fermenter

cal aspect is the ubiquitous access to the


CatalYSt SuGar
Web that these devices provide. The bound-
aries between text, sound, and images are
becoming fuzzy, and the distinction be-
tween one’s own data and information
obtained from afar is vanishing.
This will have far-reaching conse-
BiOMaSS
quences. Previously unimagined visualiza- FerMenter
tion possibilities in relation to diagnoses
and treatment history will revolutionize san franCisCo, u.s. There’s nothing new involves genetically altered E. coli bacteria,
doctors’ visits and raise telemedicine and about biodiesel, which is usually produced at which produce an enzyme that breaks down
care for the elderly to a new level. Diagno- chemical facilities from plants like rapeseed. the cellulose into sugar. The enzyme then di-
ses and maintenance work will be carried However, LS9, a company based in San Fran- gests the sugar and turns it into fatty acids
out with great precision using multimedia cisco, has now developed a procedure in that float to the top of the reactor, where they
information. Instruction in remote schools which bacteria take over the production of only need to be skimmed off. The novelty
and at home will merge with correspon- biodiesel. What’s more, the bacteria digest here is that just one type of bacteria can
dence courses taught by world-famous not only rapeseed or sugar but also biomass carry out all the steps.
professors. And books will come to life in a such as straw and scrap wood. Tests have been conducted with a 1,000-
manner reminiscent of a Harry Potter film. Although processes for transforming dif- liter biodiesel reactor that can produce one
The trend does have a drawback: We will ferent parts of plants into diesel already ex- barrel of diesel per week. A new unit is
have even less time to address increasingly ist, they do not utilize bacteria. Bioreactors scheduled to go into operation this year. LS9
complex issues. However, the answers we that produce diesel also exist, but they re- reports that a barrel of biodiesel from the de-
come up with will be better than ever quire a pure source material like sugar. The signer microbes could cost less than $50,
before. special thing about the LS9 process is that it which is even cheaper than crude oil. ls9.com

DAIMLER-TECHNICITY.COM 21

Technicity_18-23_Spektrum_E.indd 5 30.03.10 10:27


PERSPECTIVES SPECTRUM
philipp Jarke
Europe correspondent
in Hamburg and London
for the Zeitenspiegel
international journalist
agency.

making eleCtriCity smart The British


government awarded licenses for new bergen, norway
offshore wind parks at the beginning of this
year. Thousands of wind turbines will be
anchored into the sea floor around the
British Isles by 2020. These facilities will bremen, germany
have a total capacity of 32 gigawatts. Other
countries also have ambitious plans, which
severn, united kingdom
is why the number of turbines on European
coasts will soon increase a hundredfold in
what is a fantastic development.
However, there are also problems.
That’s because each new offshore wind
turbine causes electricity production to
ottobrunn, germany
fluctuate more strongly. Last December,
for example, the usually constant west
wind in the UK disappeared, leading to the
most severe winter in 30 years — and a
standstill for the nation’s offshore wind tur-
bines. Conversely, the power grid already
reaches its capacity limits whenever a
strong wind blows over the North Sea.
So what’s the answer? First, Europe’s
high-voltage network must be expanded in
order to balance out fluctuating electricity
production across the continent. Efforts
are already under way. Nine European
countries plan to lay a grid through the
North Sea that will combine different types
of eco-friendly power sources. Surplus
wind power could then be diverted to bergen, norway A genetic code for music:
Norway, for example, where it could be Music, video, and text all have their own spe-
stored by pumping water upriver into the cial data formats. MusicDNA, an all-round so-
reservoirs of hydroelectric plants. living paCkaging Bacterial packaging materials lution developed by Norway’s Dagfinn Bach,
This alone won’t be enough, however. would be able to grow around cargo. is a music data format that incorporates
Through the use of tools such as smart song lyrics, images, videos, and blog entries.
meters and variable price systems, we will bremen, germany How will freight be se- What’s more, it also updates everything as
also have to make consumption more curely packed and shipped in a way that con- soon as it is connected to the Internet. Each
flexible. One option here would be to auto- serves resources in the year 2020? Mareike file can contain up to 32 gigabytes of addi-
matically shift some consumption to Frensemeier from the University of the Arts in tional searchable information.
periods when a lot of energy is produced Bremen believes this will be done using or- Bach is an expert in this area. In fact, he
and electricity is cheaper. Our washing ganic packing material that produces itself. helped develop the first MP3 player. MP3 in-
machines would then run at night and The idea won Frensemeier third place in the ventor Karlheinz Brandenburg, head of the
compressors in refrigerated warehouses Vision Works Award design competition. Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Tech-
would mainly go into action when the wind With a packaging material known as nology in Ilmenau, Germany, also worked on
blows over the North Sea. Conversely, Bacs, Acetobacter xylinum bacteria are culti- the MusicDNA project. “MusicDNA brings to-
electric vehicles could return their energy vated — like artificial turf — on the surface of gether several ideas that have been around
to the grid when electricity is scarce. the package contents. By digesting sugar for a long time,” says Brandenburg. “A lot of
All of that would cost a lot of money. molecules, the bacteria create a mesh of hy- people wanted legal music downloads to
Still, it would make our electricity not only gienic cellulose fibers that wrap around the start including new features other than the
green but also smart. contents. visionworksaward.com music itself.” bachtechnology.com

22 T

Technicity_18-23_Spektrum_E.indd 6 30.03.10 10:27


ottobrunn, germany The idea of harvesting energy in space has
been around for the last 30 years. The concept’s proponents want to
use satellites to capture sunlight and send it to earth as concentrated
laser beams. With EADS Astrium’s decision to look for partners to
help build a test system that can be put into orbit, this vision has now
moved closer to becoming a reality. Although the required wireless
energy transfer has already been achieved in the lab, the low level of
the laser’s power still puts limits on the use of such a system.
The idea is particularly interesting because solar cells capture
energy more efficiently in space, where they can operate around the
clock and there are no clouds to block the sun. However, significant solar power plant Assembly of highly efficient
technological obstacles must still be overcome when it comes to en- solar panels that will be put into orbit. Such solar cells
suring that the intense laser beams won’t endanger animal and plant could one day transmit energy to the earth.
life on earth. astrium.eads.net

europe HIGH-TECH NEWS FROM AN INNOVATIVE REGION


“Electrical devices would be turned on mainly when the wind
blows over the North Sea, and electric vehicles could return their
energy to the grid when electricity is scarce.”
PHiliPP Jarke, TECHNICITY correspondent, London

how a tidal power plant funCtions:

Sea River basin

Turbine Bottom of the river mouth

Rising water flows from the sea into the The lock gates are closed when high The locks are opened at low tide. The
basin at the mouth of the river. tide is reached, thus capturing and water from the dam flows back into the
damming the water at the mouth of sea, driving turbines as it does so.
the river.

severn, united kingdom The tide is turning in the UK, where the government plans to build the world’s
largest tidal power station at the mouth of its longest river, the Severn. With an output of 8.6 gigawatts, the
plant would generate as much electricity as eight large power stations and cover five percent of the UK’s
electricity requirement without producing CO2 emissions or causing heated debates about the storage of
radioactive waste. The Severn is ideal because of the 15-meter tidal difference between high and low tides
at its mouth. Propellers similar to wind turbine rotors will harness the power.
Voith Hydro Ocean Current Technologies is working on similar projects. The company is currently test-
ing a 110-kilowatt turbine off the coast of South Korea and is planning to build a six-megawatt plant off the
Scottish coast. voithhydro.com

DAIMLER-TECHNICITY.COM 23

Technicity_18-23_Spektrum_E.indd 7 30.03.10 10:27


london since 2007 
(United Kingdom)
royal dutch shell plc
VAnCoUVER
(canada)
^ daimler aG/Ballard power systems, inc.
Production: Fuel cell stacks

e-city Berlin
electric moBility in the networK oF the FUtUre
Berlin is bringing the future of sustainable mobility into the present.
the German capital has become a hub for the networks that will help to
make electric mobility an everyday reality.

SAn CARloS
(u.s.)
^ daimler aG / tesla motors inc.
Production: lithium-ion batteries

PARiS
eXemPlAry electric moBility (France)
 total s.a.
initiAtiVeS in GermAny
H2 Mobility noW CEP
initiative for the establishment of a  national organization for hydrogen  clean energy partnership. associati -
hydrogen infrastructure in Germany.   and Fuel cell technology. organiza- on of various companies and public 
a memorandum of understanding  tional platform set up by the German  transport operators in Germany  
(mou   to  this  end  was  signed  in  federal government to coordinate  that  are  seeking  to  promote  the   
september 2009. the agreement   research and development activities,  use  of  hydrogen  as  a  fuel  of  the 
calls for an analysis of various possi  -  such as the “electric mobility model  future. the partnership members  
bilities for establishing a nationwide  regions” program. are BmW, BvG, daimler, Ford, opel, 
hydrogen infrastructure in Germany.  hamburger hochbahn, linde, shell, 
such an infrastructure would boost  statoil, total,  vattenfall  europe, 
plans for the series production of  and volks  wagen.
electric vehicles equipped with fuel 
cells. the h2 mobility partners are 
daimler, enBW, linde, omv, shell, 
total, vattenfall, and noW.
MAdRid
(spain)  

    Group headquarters, company location    ^ Branches and outlets, subsidiaries
  noW model regions     cep (clean energy partnership)     h2 mobility
test drivinG:    smart electric drive        B-class F-cell        citaro Fuelcell hybrid  

24 t

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 2 30.03.10 10:30


StoCkHolM
(Sweden)
 vattenFall aB
StAVAngER
(norway)
   statoil asa

  noW Gmbh 
  BvG — Berliner verkehrsbetriebe 

German Federal ministries oF:
• transport, Building, and urban development (BmvBs)
• the environment, nature conservation, and nuclear safety (Bmu)
• economics and technology (BmWi)
• education and research (BmBF)

HAMbURg
EMdEn  hamBurGer hochBahn aG 
    statoil Germany Gmbh   clean enerGy partnership 
P roduction: compressors for 
h2 filling stations 

bERlin
WolFSbURg
 volksWaGen aG 

MülHEiM An dER RUHR


v    hoFer hochdrucktechnik Gmbh
Production: compressors for 
h2 filling stations

ESSEn kAMEnZ
   evonik industries aG
^ daimler aG/li-tec Battery Gmbh 
   rWe aG
^ daimler aG/deutsche 
düSSEldoRF    Provision of lEUnA   accumotive Gmbh & co kG 
^ daimler aG/mercedes-Benz plant   1,000 e-charging stations in Germany ^ linde aG/hydromotive Gmbh  Production: lithium-ion batteries, 
Future production:  Production: h2 with steam reformer   flat cells, ceramic separators 
mercedes-Benz e-sprinter  ColognE
 Ford-Werke Gmbh 

RüSSElSHEiM
 adam opel Gmbh 
FRAnkFURt/ M

MAnnHEiM
^ daimler aG/evoBus Gmbh
^ daimler aG, competence center for 
emission-free mobility (kem)
^ mercedes-Benz 
Production: StUttgARt
HAMbACH citaro Fuelcell hybrid (e.g.)  daimler aG, Group headquarters     
(France)  evoBus Gmbh
daimler aG/smart plant   enBW aG 
kARlSRUHE
Production:
 e-drive project house 
smart electric drive
 (daimler aG and  
 karlsruhe institute of technology) kiRCHHEiM/tECk
SindElFingEn ^ daimler aG /nucellsys Gmbh
StRASboURg ^ daimler aG/mercedes-Benz  Production/development:
(France) sindelfingen plant Fuel cells
Production: ^ daimler aG / deutsche 
MUniCH
e-test route from  
 mercedes-Benz B-class F-cell,    accumotive Gmbh & co. kG   linde aG 
stuttgart to strasbourg
 a-class e-cell   BmW aG  ViEnnA
   development: reformer for generating  (austria)
gaseous h2 from liquefied petroleum gas  omv 

ZURiCH
(switzerland)

MilAn
(italy) 

MonACo PiSA RoME


(principality of monaco)  (italy)  (italy) 
 enel s.p.a

25
3

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 3 30.03.10 10:30


SmArt Fortwo electric driVe
range: 135 km energy storage unit: lithium-ion battery, 16.5 kwh
Power output: 30 kw torque: 120 nm
top speed: electronically limited to 100 km/h
From 0 to 60 km/h in: 6.5 sec.

CHARging PUMP at the reichstag in Berlin

26 t

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 4 30.03.10 10:31


tExt PHotogRAPHy
Peter thomas Joel micah miller

b
ERlin it’s a cold winter morning in January 2010 at the in 2009 was daimler’s “concept BlueZero,” a modular study that
heart of the network that will propel electric mobility into features three complementary drive system types: battery-electric
the future. the smart fortwo electric drive projects a feeling (e-cell), fuel cell (F-cell), and electric vehicles with combustion
of urban freedom in the blue light of dawn — which isn’t sur- engines as range extenders (e-cell PlUS). this approach allows
prising, given that the vehicle has the potential to redefine personal complex and varied customer demands to be met. in this regard, the
mobility in large metropolitan areas. After all, it produces zero local concept BlueZero also underscores the idea that electric mobility
emissions and operates almost silently. will bring technical diversity to transport networks.
together with the mercedes-Benz B-class F-cell, the smart the charisma of Germany’s capital fits in well with the scenario
fortwo electric drive is already leading the way into the future of indi- developed by the experts. that’s because when it comes to the vision
vidual mobility. daimler chairman dieter Zetsche describes the elec- of a sustainable infrastructure in the near future, locally emission-free
trification of vehicle traffic in Berlin as “a promising pilot project.” drive systems for large metropolitan areas will play a key role — and
it marks an important stage of the analysis of customer reactions to not just in passenger cars. we will therefore be seeing diversity not
electric mobility and a milestone in daimler’s “road to emission-free just in terms of drive systems but also in forms of mobility, says Klaus
mobility” program. Bonhoff, managing director of now Gmbh (national organization
“there’s no question any more as to whether electric drive for hydrogen and Fuel cell technology). the capital is indispensable
systems will take their place beside combustion engines; it’s only a here both as a laboratory and as a base for pilot projects. “in Berlin
question of when this will happen,” says thomas weber, the daimler you can see how e-mobility can also be incorporated into larger net-
Board of management member responsible for Group research works that utilize different modes of transport,” he says.
and mercedes-Benz cars development. daimler is taking a three-
track approach on the path to low-emission, and ultimately zero-
emission, vehicles, says weber. the first track involves producing
“in Berlin you can see how
more efficient vehicles equipped with high-tech combustion engines,
the second is the implementation of need-based hybridization, and
e-mobility can be incorporated into
the third is the production of electric cars that run on batteries
and fuel cells.
larger networks.”
the third track on the “road to emission-Free mobility” went into KLAUS BONHOFF, managing director of now Gmbh
high gear in Berlin in december 2009 with the deployment of battery- national organization for hydrogen and Fuel cell technology (now)
powered smart fortwo electric drive models (30 kw output, 135-
kilometer range on a single full charge) and the B-class F-cell, which Berlin is also getting excited about electric mobility, which is why
obtains its electrical energy from a fuel cell powered by compressed Bonhoff is already very confident that the new drive systems will enjoy
hydrogen under 700 bars of pressure (100 kw output, approximately widespread acceptance among the population. And here in Berlin
400-kilometer range on a full tank). Both models are essential the concept is being put through its paces in a network consisting
elements of the paradigm shift toward ever-lower emissions, and of information, communication, and ideas. in order to measure how
ultimately locally emission-free drive systems. electric vehicles are assessed by the people in this collective of
perception, now is supplementing its technical operations with so-
FRAnkFURt AM MAin every year, the world turns its gaze toward cial-scientific research. initial results show that the mobility solutions,
this German city when the automotive industry presents its innova- with their technical and urban appeal, have made good use of the
tions at the international motor Show (iAA). the focus of interest opportunities available to them.

dAimler-technicity.com 27

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 5 30.03.10 10:31


RAStAtt / SindElFingEn the “cornerstone” of the mercedes-
Benz B-class F-cell was laid in the south of Germany — more pre-
cisely, at the mercedes-Benz plant in rastatt. the experience gained
through development activities is now flowing into production opera-
tions, and starting in the spring of 2010 the first 200 B-class F-cell
models produced in the mercedes-Benz plants in Sindelfingen and
rastatt will be handed over to customers. meanwhile, the smart
plant in hambach, France, has built 1,000 smart fortwo electric
drive models since the end of 2009. the two vehicles will be joined
in the fall of 2010 by the battery-electric A-class e-cell (70 kw,
200-kilometer range) as the third electric model, of which more than
500 units of production are initially planned. this year mercedes-Benz
will also deliver more than 100 electric-powered vans based on the
Sprinter to fleet operators and public institutions for use in environ-
mentally sensitive zones. A further 2,000 such vans are planned.

“lithium-ion batteries have double


the power density of nickel-metal
hydride batteries.”
CHriStiAN MOHrdieCK, director of Fuel cell and Battery drive technology

daimler’s competence and production network overlaps with the


innovative networks in the model regions, which is why daimler is not
only present in the e-city of Berlin with its electric mobility solutions
but also in other cities like hamburg, where citaro G Bluetec hyBrid
diesel-hybrid buses are already in operation. this year will also see the
introduction of new citaro Fuelcell hybrid buses and the B-class
F-cell in hamburg. the smart fortwo electric drive currently re-
charges at charging stations. in the future, it will also be possible
for vehicles to “fill up” with energy from the public grid, especially in
large cities and metropolitan areas. not since the advent of the com-
bustion engine has such a fundamental transformation taken place
regarding drive systems for personal and public transport.
“lithium-ion technology in the smart electric drive has increased
battery charging and discharging efficiency by 30 percent as com-
pared to the nickel-metal hydride cells formerly used,” says christian
mohrdieck, director of Fuel cell and Battery drive technology at
daimler. “it has also doubled power density and further improved
cold-start capability. Still, there’s a lot left to do — for example, in
terms of fast-charging capability and the extension of charging and
discharging intervals.” Automakers are working hard on the further
development of battery technologies in order to address these issues.
in fact, daimler engineers have registered more than 600 patents for
battery-powered vehicles over the last 30 years. more than 230 of
them involved lithium-ion technology.
when the smart fortwo electric drive compact (top speed
electronically limited to 100 km/h) recharges its battery, it hooks
up to the power grid via a spiral cable with a bright blue connector —
the “umbilical cord” that connects the energy supply network
with the vehicle. however, as a technical concept, the smart elec-
tric drive is also linked to the networks of research, technology,
and government funding that are moving electric mobility forward
in Germany. the strands of these combined systems come from
places like Stuttgart, Sindelfingen, rastatt, essen, munich, nabern,
and Kamenz, as well as from France and california — and they all

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Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 6 30.03.10 10:31


context

PionEER in tHE USE oF HydRogEn


daimler presented the first fuel cell vehicle in 1994.
today, a fleet of more than 100 fuel cell vehicles,
ranging from the mercedes-Benz A-class to the
mercedes-Benz citaro bus, is now being operated
by customers around the world. with more than 4.5
million pollution-free kilometers driven and a total
fleet operating time of over 200,000 hours, daimler
can certainly claim extensive experience and com-
prehensive expertise when it comes to fuel cells.

FUEl CEll tECHnology


the mercedes-Benz B-class F-cell is the world’s
first fuel cell-powered electric series-production
vehicle suitable for everyday use. the car emits only
water — and absolutely no pollutants.
the fuel cell stack is the energy converter unit
that forms the centerpiece of the drive system. the
stack, which is housed under a secure covering
in the trunk of the car, utilizes atmospheric oxygen
and hydrogen from an onboard tank to generate the
electricity that powers the electric motor.

REAR ConVERtER
the fuel cell stack (in blue) is the centerpiece of the
h2 drive system.

MERCEdES-bEnZ b-ClASS F-CEll


at Potsdamer Platz, Berlin

dAimler-technicity.com 29

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 7 30.03.10 10:31


trAFFic in the cAPitAl
Hydrogen infrastructure

inHAbitAntS
HydRogEn h2 is the most common chemical element in 
the universe. hydrogen doesn’t exist in its pure form in 

3.4 million nature, however. instead, it needs to be removed from com-


pounds through a process that requires energy. the use of 
hydrogen can make a significant contribution to reducing  
the co2 emissions generated by vehicle traffic, and can 
REgiStRAtionS oF nEW VEHiClES PER yEAR (rounded)
therefore also play a major role in the establishment of a 
1.4 million:
system of sustainable mobility.
94,000 are motorcycles
1.2 million are passenger cars
inFRAStRUCtURE if fuel cell vehicles are to become 
80,000 are trucks
attractive for consumers, it will be necessary to set up an 
extensive hydrogen filling station network. various pilot 
projects in Germany will lead to the establishment of public 
lEngtH oF tHE PUbliC RoAd nEtWoRk (rounded)
hydrogen filling stations that will gradually be expanded  
5,700 km:
into a comprehensive network.
260 km are state roads
80 km are city freeways
200 km are federal highways
5,100 km are city streets

Berlin iS GoinG Green

bERlin the German capital is marked by a relatively low rate of motorization per
resident as compared with other large cities.

Motor vehicle 31 % electricity infrastructure

ElECtRiCity in order to provide vehicles with the electricity 
Public transport 26 % they need, it will be necessary to link power plants and elec-
tric filling stations. to this end, power grids will be employed 
that operate with standardized voltage and utilize alternating 
on foot/ by bicycle 43 % current with set frequencies. in Germany, this energy will be 
transmitted over long distances with three-phase alternating 
current systems that operate at a power frequency of 50 hz 
PERSonAl tRAnSPoRt Berlin’s residents walk or ride their bicycles to their and grid voltages of up to 400 kv. only when it gets close 
destinations 43 percent of the time, drive their cars 31 percent of the time, and to the consumer will this electricity be stepped down to an 
use public transport 26 percent of the time. Some 30 percent of all journeys with effective value of 230 v (single-phase alternating current) 
a vehicle are commuter trips. the number of commuters is increasing, leading to or 400 v (three-phase alternating current) for distribution at 
higher traffic volumes. electric filling stations.

tRAnSPoRt Mix Personal transport with motor vehicles, bicycles, or by foot inFRAStRUCtURE  one of the trademarks of electric mo  -
is supplemented by an extensive network of buses, streetcars, subways, and bility is the generation of electrical energy from renewable 
suburban trains, as well as ferries and small transport ships. the Berliner Ver- sources. unlike conventional centralized power generation  
kehrsgesellschaft (BVG) transport company and the S-Bahn commuter rail at large power plants, this renewable energy approach in-
system alone transport a combined 1.3 billion passengers each year. Berlin is volves a large number of distributed power generation facili-
also served by the long-distance rail network and various airlines. the latter ties such as hydroelectric, wind, solar, and biogas power 
transported 21.4 million people in and out of the capital in 2008. plants. energy companies like rWe and vattenfall now guar-
antee a stable and sustainable supply of electricity through  
SoUrceS: State Statistical institute Berlin-Brandenburg; Federal motor transport Authority, Flensburg; a mix that includes wind power facilities and coal-fired power 
Berlin Senate department of Urban development
plants with co2 separation.

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Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 8 30.03.10 10:31


e-city Berlin:
electricity Grid
on the SPree

tegel Airport, Berlin

Alexanderplatz

Victory column
Brandenburg Gate

sp
ree
museum island
8
Potsdamer Platz

Kaiser wilhelm memorial church

German ministry of economics and  daimler aG
technology (BmWi) research & development 
society and technology research Group 
German ministry of transport, Building, 
and urban development (BmvBs) total deutschland Gmbh 

German ministry of the environment,  vattenfall europe Berlin aG & co. kG
nature conservation, and nuclear safety 
(Bmu) BvG – Berliner verkehrsbetriebe 

German ministry of education and  Berliner energieagentur Gmbh 
research (BmBF)
national organization for hydrogen 
Berlin senate department of urban  and Fuel cell technology 
development (noW)

mercedes-Benz World
smart center Berlin electric filling station

mercedes-Benz sales 
Germany (mBvd)  cep h2 filling station

dAimler-technicity.com 31

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 9 30.03.10 10:31


cHronicle

bAttERy-PoWEREd ElECtRiC Mobility in


bERlin: tHE bEginningS

1899 the first battery-powered bus: the “Kaiser


hotel” shuttle bus.
1901 the first hybrid taxi: the “mercedes mixte.”
1906 Ferdinand Porsche wins the exelberg race
with a mercedes-lohner-Porsche, a specially
designed vehicle based on the mercedes-
Simplex.
1908 the first electric city cars begin operating in
Berlin-marienfelde: the mercedes electrique,
landaulet, coupe, and mylord.

MAintEnAnCE And SERViCing


is carried out at the mercedes-Benz and smart outlet
at Salzufer.

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Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 10 30.03.10 10:31


come together in the German capital. Berlin is a live wire 24 hours
a day. the political, societal, and cultural center of the Federal re-
electricAl rechArGinG:
public is one of the largest hubs in the european network of urban how doeS it FUnction And
mobility, and it displays all the potential and problems such a po-
sition brings with it. that’s why this lively city is ideal as an inter-
whAt Kind oF connector
national stage for new mobility concepts with environmentally needS to Be USed?
friendly electric drives. it’s also the reason why the capital is a
model region in the German government’s national development
Plan for electric mobility and a focus of interest for the clean energy technology for the future must be reliable. that’s why
Partner-ship (ceP). For example, mercedes-Benz fuel cell passen- a standardized connector was developed for recharging
ger cars have been on the road there since the ceP was launched the batteries in electric vehicles. this connector:
in november 2004. later, as part of the e-mobility project, they • has seven poles
were joined by the smart fortwo electric drive, which was launched • transfers three-phase alternating current or
in 2009. single-phase current
Get in, start the car, and hit the road: the smart fortwo electric
drive can be recharged either at home via a normal power socket the connector is designed for:
or on the road at three-phase alternating current charging stations. • a maximum of 500 volts
its connector was produced by a network consisting of electricity • a current of up to 63 amperes
supply companies, automakers, and automotive suppliers. After all, • a power input of 40 kw
future electric-powered vehicles from daimler and other manu-
facturers will also require access to this infrastructure. Against this Such standards are a must if a new technology is to
backdrop, manufacturers and energy suppliers laid an important be introduced on a broad basis, as was the case with
foundation for future battery-electric vehicles by creating a uniform natural gas fuel pumps at conventional filling stations.
Vde standard for the connector in the fall of 2009. the standard connector is used at public and private
the smart’s electricity is stored in a 16.5 kwh lithium-ion battery charging stations that provide an output of max. 44 kw
that can also be recharged during the braking process. here, the and 22 kw, respectively. By comparison, household
synchronous electric motor on the rear axle switches to generator sockets deliver 3.7 kw of power or less.
mode, thereby conserving energy, saving money, and benefiting the
environment. ContRACt customers sign a
vehicle electricity contract with a power
company.

“the key to more efficiency and en-


CHARging the standardized connec-
vironmental compatibility lies in the tor fits every electric vehicle.

electrification of the drive system.” MEASUREMEnt electronic systems


monitor the charging process and end it
HerBert KOHLer, when the battery is fully charged.
head of e-drive & Future mobility, chief environmental officer, daimler AG

dAtA PRoCESSing CEntER the


however, there’s nothing conservative about the dynamic perfor- charging process data is transmitted to
mance of the smart fortwo ed when the traffic flows. in fact, it de- a computer center.
livers the typical torque of an electric motor as it speeds through
the capital, accelerating from 0 to 60 km/h in just 6.5 seconds. the billing the vehicle electricity bill
result is an enjoyable and dynamic driving experience achieved lists all recharging operations and the
total cost.
through battery power packed into the vehicle’s sandwich floor.
drive system technology network: daimler is relying on a broad
range of drive systems as it helps shape a clean driving future. the
Group’s fleet consists of efficient vehicles equipped with economical
combustion engines, which are supplemented by hybrids and electric
vehicles powered by batteries or fuel cells.
the combination of optimized combustion engines and electric
motors is an important component of a low-emission fleet, according
to herbert Kohler, head of e-drive & Future mobility and chief en-
vironmental officer at daimler: “the key to more efficiency and envi-
ronmental compatibility lies in the electrification of the drive system.
the potential here is huge and ranges from the start-stop function
and the electrification of secondary components to purely electric
driving. A hybrid can only ever be as environmentally friendly as its
combustion engine.”

dAimler-technicity.com 33

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 11 30.03.10 10:31


HERbERt koHlER mercedes-Benz museum, Stuttgart

SyStEM
conVerGence

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 12 30.03.10 10:31


herBert Kohler
the head of e-drive & Future mobility and chief environmental
officer at daimler AG talks about electric mobility, mass production,
and how different drive strategies augment one another.

ExPERiEnCE Mr. kohler, when was units. today, activities within our project company with which we enjoy a long history
the first time you drove a car with an structures are so tightly networked that we of collaboration in the field of hydrogen
electric drive system? can exploit all the available synergies. And applications.
that must have been around the middle here i’m talking not just about research and
or the end of the 1990s — when i drove one development but also the preparations for StRAtEgy Where does daimler
of our very first fuel cell prototypes. driving series production operations. Because all stand in terms of its goal of zero-
a cold-combustion vehicle was a very inter- crucial activities are carried out within one emission mobility, now that the smart
esting experience. there was also something organizational unit, we are able to introduce fortwo electric drive and the b-Class
emotional about the electric drive system. new production vehicles very quickly. F-CEll are set to commence small-
it was direct and dynamic, and you immedi- batch production?
ately noticed that it was a different kind of tECHnology What effect does we’ve come a long way over the last
driving. this process have on the technical three to five years. As i always say, when
details of the vehicles ready for series you run a marathon, the race doesn’t really
PARAdigM SHiFt Can the current production? begin until you’ve run the first two kilome-
paradigm shift regarding vehicle motor- in this internal network for the future, ters. daimler has long since passed that
ization be compared to the changeover it’s important to use a modular strategy to point in terms of electric mobility and the
from the steam engine to the internal achieve the variety we’re seeking when it vehicle technologies that are needed to
combustion engine? comes to new production models. And that’s make it a reality. nevertheless, we’re still far
i’m not a big fan of bombastic images exactly what we’re doing. we’re following from having achieved our goal, especially
and comparisons, which is why i don’t see this approach for hybrid drives and electric when it comes to the key issue of infra-
us experiencing a “clash of systems” in the vehicles equipped with battery-electric or structure. •
coming years. instead, the focus will be fuel cell drive systems. the important thing
on the electrification of the existing power- is to not only align systems but also have
train, whether that occurs through a combi- identical components. curriculuM Vitae
nation of an electric motor and a combus-
tion engine or through the use of all-electric nEtWoRk oF tHE FUtURE berlin
+++ At daimler since 1976 +++ Founder of the
drive systems. As to how developments will and the “e-mobility” project represent
“environment, technology, and traffic” center
proceed in detail: well, we won’t know that one of the largest and most dynamic
in 1992, head of Strategic Product Planning at
until we’ve traveled a few years down the future networks in existence. What
development until the end of 1999 +++ honorary
road. let’s not forget that the development role is daimler playing here?
Professor at the University of Stuttgart since 1998
of energy technologies is always an evolu- we initiated the e-mobility Berlin pro-
+++ head of Body and Powertrain research
tionary process — in other words, one drive ject, and the hydrogen initiative in Berlin
2000–2006; subsequently director of Group
system isn’t going to replace another one wouldn’t exist in its current form if we
research & Advanced engineering Vehicle and
overnight. hadn’t been on board. together with other
Powertrain +++ chief environmental officer at
automakers and energy supply companies,
daimler since march 2002 +++ recipient of the
SynERgiES you’re Head of e-drive we were also involved from the very be-
B.A.U.m. environmental Award in 2005 +++ head
& Future Mobility at daimler. Since last ginning in the development of a standard
of e-drive and Future mobility at research and
year, your internal competence network plug for battery-electric vehicles. Such
Advanced engineering with responsibility for the
has consolidated all key activities as- major projects can only be implemented
development of batteries and fuel cells since 2009.
sociated with future mobility. What pro- if many partners work together in a dedi-
cesses have you developed to achieve cated manner. this is true of Berlin — but
this objective? it also applies to hamburg, where we’ve
the organizational restructuring that been cooperating with hamburger hoch-
took place one year ago brought together all bahn for quite some time. this type of
activities related to research and advanced cooperation also shows us who we can
engineering. it also led to the establishment depend on over the long haul. in this con-
of close cooperation with other business text, i would like to mention linde, a

dAimler-technicity.com 35

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 13 30.03.10 10:31


modUlAr
electric driVeS
onboard charger
energy distribution

Power electronics internal combustion


Power electronics engine (range extender)

high-voltage battery

electric motor
Fuel tank

high-voltage battery
e-cell
the BlueZero e-cell is a pure battery-electric vehicle that can   electric motor
travel 200 km on one full charge. the only external indication of  
its electric drive system is a vehicle body that has no tailpipe or 
exhaust aperture. e-cell PlUS
the vehicle is powered by an electric drive that gets its energy from a 
battery, while a combustion engine serves as a generator. this range 
high-voltage battery
Fuel cell system extender, a three-cylinder gasoline engine with a displacement of 
1,000 cm3, is also equipped with a turbocharger. thanks to this setup, 
the vehicle has a range of up to 600 km.

Power electronics

electric motor
Power electrics
onboard charger

transmission

electric motor
lithium-ion battery drivetrain cooling system

Accelerator
hydrogen tank

F-cell Brake vacuum pump


the fuel cell-powered BlueZero F-cell runs on hydrogen and has  
a locally emission-free range of around 400 km. the additional  
components for the new drive system are installed in the sandwich 
floor of the B-class. SmArt Fortwo electric driVe
the smart fortwo electric drive is the second-generation model of  
the electric city car. its 30 kW synchronous electric motor, which 
drives the rear wheels, has a maximum torque of 120 nm and gets 
its energy from a lithium-ion battery that can store 16.5 kWh of 
electricity. 

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 14 30.03.10 10:32


daimler engineers have adopted a need-based approach to hybridiza- energy Partnership program are even more significant than previous
tion that combines combustion engines and electronic components undertakings, such as the fleet test conducted with 100 first-genera-
in varying configurations. the concepts range from mild hybrids to tion smart electric drive models in london.
the Plug-in hyBrid. mercedes-Benz confidently took the first step that’s because the project in Berlin is laying the groundwork
here with its S-class flagship model when it presented the mercedes- for energy supply, service, and infrastructure networks that will make
Benz S 400 hyBrid in october 2008. this S-class, which is equipped it possible to produce electric vehicles in series within two years
with a combined drive system consisting of a gasoline engine and an and, of course, beyond that time. rwe, for example, plans to install
electric motor, was the first hybrid vehicle in the world to be equipped 500 charging stations for electric cars in Berlin this year and 1,000
with a lithium-ion battery. it was also the first series-produced stations throughout Germany. in February, totAl began operating
German hybrid passenger car. most importantly, it remains the clean- its second hydrogen filling station in Berlin, which features innovative
est luxury sedan in the world. technology from linde and Statoilhydro.
the various departments that work on alternative drive systems the new energy supply networks will change the way we “fill up”
don’t shy away from sharing their expertise, as this is one of the prin- our cars, and this will be especially true of battery-electric vehicles
ciples behind the “road to emission-free mobility.” this was dem- and plug-in hybrids. For one thing, battery charging – even at high-
onstrated by the successful introduction of the Bluetec exhaust gas performance charging stations – will involve longer breaks from
treatment system for diesel drives, which made its debut in mercedes- driving, although in the future these breaks will be measured in
Benz commercial vehicles in 2005 and celebrated its passenger car minutes rather than hours. this is why rwe is building a tightly knit
premiere in the e-class in 2006. charging station network in Berlin.

“hydrogen and electricity can com- MUniCH the technology for hydrogen tanks and storage units is
also at an advanced stage, according to markus Bachmeier, head of
plement diesel and gasoline as the hydrogen Solutions at linde in munich. Users won’t notice any dif-
ferences between the hydrogen filling process and the one utilized
key mobility currencies in the long for natural gas-powered vehicles – except for the fact that hydrogen
is stored at a much higher pressure of 700 bars. the typical filling
term. the race to see what will come process takes just three minutes. the initial central location for ve-
hicles equipped with fuel cells was a total filling station at heerstraße
out on top is well under way.” 324 that was developed and built by linde; a second station recently
opened on holzmarktstraße. linde also now operates a mobile filling
HerBert KOHLer, station known as trailh2-gas for supplying the ceP fleet.
head of e-drive & Future mobility, chief environmental officer, daimler AG Bachmeier believes that the current network of traditional filling
stations will serve in the future as important locations for h2 pumps
without a doubt, the optimization of existing and established drive as well: “Filling stations will have to offer the maximum number
systems is one good way of achieving significant short-term reduc- of available energy sources in the future, because consumers will
tions in consumption and co2 emissions throughout the vehicle fleet. want to obtain their fuel from trusted vendors.” Bachmeier also
other solutions such as electric vehicles offer great potential for believes great potential is offered by more extensive utilization of
the medium term, which is why they need to be extensively funded. “green h2” obtained from sewage gases or biodiesel production
however, such solutions will not have any significant impact on the waste. According to Bachmeier, electrolysis presents another sustain-
pollution balance of road traffic until they are on the road in larger able production method — when the energy comes from wind power
numbers. despite this fact, Kohler is convinced that electric mobility and solar energy — whereby hydrogen serves as a storage medium
will firmly establish itself over the long term: “hydrogen and electricity for the electrical energy produced from renewable sources. in gener-
can complement diesel and gasoline as the key mobility currencies al, Bachmeier is optimistic: “there will be a multitude of production
in the long term. the race to see what will come out on top in this techniques for generating green h2 in an intelligent and sustainable
process of change is already well under way.” manner,” he says.
A network of targeted funding: the German government’s na- the energy for the charging stations operated by rwe as part of
tional development Plan for electric mobility (nePe) aims to speed the e-mobility project in Berlin is already produced exclusively from
up this process. Part of the program therefore consists of putting renewable sources, says carolin reichert: “our charging stations only
one million electric vehicles of various kinds on the road by 2020. provide electricity certified as being generated from renewable
the first phase of the development plan involves projects that will sources. we can demonstrate that rwe feeds the same amount of
be funded to the tune of 500 million. the money will come from eco-friendly electricity into the grid in the area around the charging
Germany’s Stimulus Package ii; the program will be implemented stations as the electric vehicles take out of the grid.” the associated
by a network consisting of the ministries of education and research infrastructure – all the way down to the connectors – is already
(BmBF); environment, nature conservation, and nuclear Safety designed in such a way that a large fleet of electric vehicles will be
(BmU); economics and technology (Bmwi); and transport, Building, able to help compensate for fluctuating grid feed-in, as is often the
and Urban development (BmVBS). case with wind power.
daimler’s involvement in Berlin is just one of several elements the broad-scale introduction of electric mobility will require a
of the Group’s strategy for achieving zero-emission mobility. the nationwide network of new filling stations. daimler is taking the first
“e-mobility Berlin” project and daimler’s cooperation with many part- steps with its partners in this direction, says Kohler. Specifically, a
ners from the automotive and energy supply industries in the clean ring system of stations for hydrogen and electricity is now being

dAimler-technicity.com 37

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 15 30.03.10 10:32


established between Berlin and hamburg. “Vehicle manufacturers
need to be aware of just how important this infrastructure network of
FUndinG For electric moBility
new filling stations is,” Kohler explains. An intelligent network has also
been linking the sales organizations of mercedes-Benz and smart
the market for electric vehicles and the associated drive system technologies is
since 2009. the goal here is the distribution of knowledge rather than
growing around the world. Accordingly, a huge amount of funding is already being
energy. experts from various daimler locations began training service
provided today for pilot projects and technical developments. only those compa-
teams at the mercedes-Benz outlet at Salzufer 1 in Berlin and at the
nies that can strategically position themselves in this market of the future will be
neighboring smart center even before the alternative drive vehicles hit
able to participate in its growth.
the road. the German capital will now be used as a base for develop-
ing the future nationwide service network that will handle the electric
vehicles built by the two brands.
intERnAtionAl FUnding
kAMEnZ daimler is simultaneously developing a new production
network to accompany its network of electric mobility expertise. For CHinA
example, deutsche Accumotive Gmbh is now building europe’s innovations for more efficient drive systems:
biggest factory for lithium-ion batteries in Kamenz. this will make 1,000 million Euro
daimler, which owns 90 percent of deutsche Accumotive, the first development of ten pilot regions:
automobile manufacturer in europe to also produce lithium-ion bat- 2,000 million Euro
teries in high volumes for use in electric cars.
daimler is also in a strong position as far as fuel cells are con- U.S.
cerned. its nucellSys Gmbh subsidiary in nabern became wholly development of battery technologies:
owned by the Group in the summer of 2009. the company has been 2,000 million Euro
manufacturing fuel cells since 2003 and is now working on the next
generation of these units. Additional know-how in the field of elec- JAPAn
tric drives is being gathered in california, where daimler holds a ten development of battery technologies:
percent interest in the tesla electric mobility company in San carlos. 145 million Euro
expert knowledge provided by tesla was used to produce components
of the first 1,000 smart fortwo ed models. “no other automaker has gERMAny
targeted its strategic focus so broadly and deeply in the direction of innovations for more efficient drive systems:
electric mobility as daimler has,” says mohrdieck. 700 million Euro
daimler’s future electric mobility network spans the globe. it’s a
network that will lead to tomorrow’s automobile – to “Auto 2.0.” the
smart fortwo electric drive is currently at the heart of this develop- gERMAn tARgEt: onE Million ElECtRiC VEHiClES by 2020
ment. As it cruises along the streets of Berlin, the groundbreaking
vehicle seems to radiate the dynamic potential and the trust that’s 2009 2011 market ramp-up 2020
been placed in it. the reliable electric motor brings the driver home,
PHASES market/technology Volume
where the vehicle can once again be recharged from the grid using FoCUS preparation
a charging box specially made for private garages. this is where the tARgEt FoR 2020:
smart fortwo electric drive gets the energy it needs to help usher in one million vehicles
the future of mobility. •

SoUrce: excerpt from a report by the German budgetary committee for Stimulus Package ii, item 9
(Focus) “electric mobility” (Bmwi, BmVBS, BmU, BmBF, BmelV).
HyPerlinK

You’ll find further information related to this article at:

daimler-technicity.com/technologyandinnovation
including the following features:
1. how today’s electric vehicles from daimler operate
2. national and international funding for electric mobility
3. the history of electric vehicle development at daimler

38 t

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 16 30.03.10 10:32


MERCEdES-bEnZ b-ClASS F-CEll
Federal ministry of transport, Building, and Urban
development, Berlin

mercedeS-BenZ B-clASS F-cell


range: Approx. 400 km energy storage unit: lithium-ion battery (1.4 kw)
Fuel cell power output: 100 kw torque: 290 nm
top speed: electronically limited to 170 km/h

dAimler-technicity.com 39

Technicity_24-39_E-City_E.indd 17 30.03.10 10:33


TexT PhoTograPhy
Steffan Heuer Sascha Pfläging

Putting the iPhone into


the S-ClaSS
The Mercedes-Benz research lab in Silicon Valley ensures that innovations
quickly find their way into the brand’s vehicles. A perfect example of how this
works is provided by the iPhone’s integration into the new S-Class.

Technicity_40-47_iPhone_E.indd 2 30.03.10 10:55


DAiMler-TeCHniCiTy.CoM 41
­

Technicity_40-47_iPhone_E.indd 3 30.03.10 10:55


CreaTive showdown David and Goliath are sometimes made for unveiled at Macworld 2005 when Apple Ceo Steve Jobs presented the
one another – at least when comes to hardware. rather than result- first iPod kit fully integrated into a Mercedes-Benz in a demonstration
ing in a battle, the showdown between the two can lead to a creative that attracted a great deal of attention around the world. The two
partnership. companies have cooperated closely on a regular basis since that time,
in one corner is the iPhone: 1.23 centimeters thin, 11.6 centi- says Jungwirth: “Perfection doesn’t occur overnight, and therefore it’s
meters high, and weighing in at 135 grams, the iPhone and its even extremely important that we’re located close together. That makes
lighter brother, the iPod Touch, are among the most popular pocket it easy to get on the phone and arrange a meeting at short notice
computers in the world. More than 50 million units of these two Apple to discuss ideas, proposals, and the objectives and vision behind
products, which can run well over 100,000 applications, had been what we’re doing.”
sold by the end of 2009. in this regard, the two lightweights have
turned the world of mobile communication and entertainment on
its head.
“People expect to have to replace their electronic
in the opposite corner stands the champion from Mercedes-Benz: devices every two or three years — but we design
the new S-Class, which is 5.21 meters long, 1.87 meters wide, and
weighs in at two tons. The model is available in different drive system
a Mercedes-Benz to last 30 years.”
versions that include everything from a hybrid unit to a 12-cylinder Bharat BalasuBramanian,
engine. The output ranges from 279 hp to a maximum 610 hp, making Head of Product innovations & Process Technologies at Group research
the S-Class a vehicle that sets new standards, much as the iPhone and Advanced engineering
does in its sector. The S-Class combines state-of-the-art technology,
comfort, and safety into a high-performance package that quickly Bharat Balasubramanian, Head of Product innovations & Process
leaves most of its rivals in the dust. Technologies at Group research and Advanced engineering, knows
A closer look at the two seemingly unequal sparring partners re- how strategically imperative it is to search for fresh ideas — including
veals several common features. For example, both the iPhone and the those that come from competent partners outside one’s own compa-
S-Class embody innovation and a design philosophy that conceals ny. “our people and the people at Apple share a respect for in-depth
complexity beneath an apparently simple yet elegant exterior. Thanks expert knowledge,” he says. “They’re very impressed by the quality of
to a host of engineers and programmers, both also succeed in keep- our integration operations – from the smart to the S-Class. our good
ing users focused on the product and the enjoyment it offers, despite networking not only has to do with physical proximity but also with
potential disturbances from third-party hawkers outside the ring, so our development teams, which come up with new ideas through close
to speak. cooperation.” (see interview on page 46)
indeed, Mercedes-Benz experts meet with Apple engineers
around once a week in Cupertino. Such meetings are supplemented
“Mercedes-Benz and Apple are premium brands by executive-level conferences whenever key development milestones
for which user-friendliness and modern design are reached. Developers often sit for hours in a vehicle to test flashes
of brilliance. And that could mean everything from new interfaces
are an integral part of corporate culture.” for head units – for example, an interface that depicts the cover art
Johann Jungwirth, for a specific album – to more detailed parameters such as scroll
Ceo Mercedes-Benz research & Development north America, inc. speed, which needs to be different on a vehicle display than in
a handheld device.
Those who utilize their iPhone in a new Mercedes-Benz can access “This relaxed personal contact allows us to develop innovations
their music directly via the vehicle’s instrument interface. This smooth more rapidly and also improves our ability to implement new ideas,”
operation was made possible by six years of joint development, an says Khaled Mosalem, the engineering director in Palo Alto. “Apple
open exchange of ideas, and extensive experimentation. is also interested in our feedback because our common goal is to
The source of the constant cycle of new ideas and products can ensure that the customer enjoys a holistic experience — in other
be found on Hansen Way in Palo Alto, California – the home of the words, a perfect Apple product in a perfect Mercedes-Benz.”
research and development lab operated by Mercedes-Benz north
America. it’s a great place to be for anyone wanting to keep pace CulTural exChange The Silicon Valley lab has also proved to be
with the developments in Silicon Valley. iT giants like Hewlett-Packard, extremely useful when it comes to transferring ideas across the Atlan-
intel, Google, and yahoo! are no more than a 45-minute drive away, as tic so that Mercedes-Benz engineers in europe can more effectively
is Apple. if necessary, you can even walk to world-renowned Stanford incorporate the innovations into the product development process.
University to talk to brilliant professors and students. For example, the team from Palo Alto has three vehicles in Sindelfin-
The lab’s two-story complex and adjacent workshop is occupied gen that they use to demonstrate new concepts. “Up until a couple
by engineers, programmers, and other specialists who work with high- of years ago, we were flying head units to Germany in special cases,”
tech pioneers from California on the hardware and software systems says Mosalem. “now it’s much easier and faster to present innova-
of tomorrow. Mercedes-Benz enjoys a special relationship with Apple, tions to important experts and decision-makers.” There’s also a lively
whose chairman was just recently named “Ceo of the Decade” by exchange between staff members in Sindelfingen, Germany, and Cali-
Fortune magazine. Johann Jungwirth from Mercedes-Benz research & fornia, with each side able to spend half a year or more at the other’s
Development north America, inc. is convinced that the close coop- location to gain an insight into the respective culture.
eration between the two brands is best illustrated by the integration of The early identification of new ideas from the creative hub of Sili-
the iPod and the iPhone into the new S-Class. This partnership was con Valley and the incorporation of such ideas into Mercedes-Benz

42 T

Technicity_40-47_iPhone_E.indd 4 30.03.10 10:55


CHRONIClE
“war room”: engineers design applications for the sketch shows how data flows between
the iPhone at the development center. the vehicle and the iPhone.
2001 Apple Ceo Steve Jobs presents the com-
pany’s first iPod in october.
2003 Close cooperation between Daimler research
& Development and Apple begins.
2005 Apple Ceo Steve Jobs presents the first
fully integrated Apple product solution
developed by an automaker at Macworld
in San Francisco.
2007 Apple unveils the iPhone in January; the
device goes on sale at the end of June.
2008 Mercedes-Benz launches Apple product
integration ex works. Mercedes drivers
can now operate their iPods and iPhones
via head units like the CoMAnD system.

Dummy paper displays help with the menu


design for iPhone programs.

everyThing obeys myCoMand


Whether it’s radio, music databases, traffic information or internet browsers — the myCoMAnD
infotainment system from Mercedes-Benz does it all. All of its functions can be called up at lighting
speed via an interface display above the center console:
• Trip Assist accesses up-to-date information from the internet on traffic conditions and facilities
like filling stations, parking areas, and hotels along the route.
• The integrated browser allows drivers to surf the Web as they would on their PC.
• The music player accesses songs from the driver’s personal library stored on the internet.
• World radio can access any internet radio station in the world.

Flexible route selection with traffic route is calculated with a detour Quick guidance to the nearest
information from the internet. to the next filling station. parking lot or hotel.

DAiMler-TeCHniCiTy.CoM 43

Technicity_40-47_iPhone_E.indd 5 30.03.10 10:55


processes pays off. That’s why the team in Palo Alto experiments with
new smartphone applications like those for the iPhone (apps) that can HYPERlINK
be downloaded quickly and strengthen the link between the driver
and the vehicle. This was how the Universal Consumer interface (UCi) You’ll find further information on this article at:
cable that allows drivers to access even more iPod functions was
created at the lab on Hansen Way.
The clever inventors in Palo Alto also provided a preview of the
future of infotainment by developing a new head unit known as daimler-technicity.com/managementandprocesses
myCoMAnD. The myCoMAnD prototype in the S-Class obtains data including the following features:
for navigation, music, and video via a wireless 4G network that can 1. The most popular Mercedes-Benz iPhone apps
transfer up to 25 megabits of data per second. Drivers can thus listen 2. Photos from the Palo Alto development lab
to any radio station in the world or even book a hotel room while on 3. innovation: Account management via a smartphone in the car
the move. “We’re always thinking about how we can integrate intel- 4. Apple meets Mercedes-Benz: A success story
ligent, open, and flexible infotainment and telematics interfaces and
solutions into vehicles,” says Jungwirth. Such contemplation also
includes determining how apps can best be called up and controlled
via an onboard mobile communication device.
The closely knit feedback cycle with the visionaries in Cupertino
is meant to ensure that Mercedes-Benz and Apple will continue to
emerge victorious from the ring in the future when it comes to perfor-
mance, comfort, and user-friendliness. •

auToMoTive aPPs
Where’s my car? The iPhone will be able to answer this question in the future —
but the mobile application mbrace from Mercedes-Benz USA can do even more
than that:
• Mercedes drivers can use it to lock or unlock their vehicle via their cell phone
touchscreen.
• mbrace can locate the vehicle via GPS even in large parking lots.
• in the event of a breakdown, mbrace automatically calls customer service or
roadside assistance.
• The iPhone can also locate the closest authorized Mercedes dealer.
• mbrace can display the account balance with Mercedes-Benz Financial.

iPhone App for new e-Class Mercedes-Benz


account management coupe game card game

44 T
­

Technicity_40-47_iPhone_E.indd 6 30.03.10 10:56


12
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DAiMler-TeCHniCiTy.CoM 45

Technicity_40-47_iPhone_E.indd 7 30.03.10 10:56


“INNOvaTIONS Are Made b
Bharat BalasuBramanian on inspiration from Silicon Valley

eMoTion Professor Balasubramanian, interesting concepts. Take MP3 music data


CURRICUlUM vITaE you’re responsible for product innova- and the Apple iPod: The MP3 format was
tions. Besides green technologies and developed by the Fraunhofer Society in
Prof. dr.-ing. bharat balasubramanian emission reductions, what key issues will Germany, but it was here in Silicon Valley
+++ Born in 1951 in Chennai, india +++ Bachelor of need to be addressed in the future? that its commercial potential was identified
Technology, with “First Class Honors” from the indian The current discussions focus strongly and exploited. The trademark of this region
institute of Technology in Mumbai (Bombay) +++ on Co2 emissions, and these values certainly is its capacity to generate ideas and bring
Master and PhD (engineering) “with distinction,” play a major role in the general acceptance together different technologies to create
Universität Karlsruhe +++ Known internally as enjoyed by our vehicles. nevertheless, i’m something new. That’s why we were the
“Prof. Bharat” +++ involved with innovations at convinced that comfort and driving pleasure first German automaker to arrive on the
Daimler for more than 30 years +++ Worked will greatly influence individual attitudes scene here 15 years ago.
on computer analyses and computer-aided design toward mobility in the future. That’s why
(CAD) at the Total Quality Management department developers should not underestimate cus- CommunitY how does the innovation
and eventually became Vice President at Daimler tomers’ perceptions here. Consider the ways process at mercedes work? Do you get a
Group research & Advanced engineering +++ Head in which you experience your vehicle every significant boost from silicon Valley?
of Product innovations & Process Technologies day. on the one hand, there are obvious yes, and that’s exactly why i took the
at Group research & Advanced engineering since vehicle characteristics such as the steering top managers from my research centers
April 2009 +++ Honorary Professor at Technische response, handling, and driving dynamics. on a tour two years ago to visit companies
Universität Berlin +++ But you also come into contact with systems like Adobe, Apple, Google, and intel to see
that relax you — for instance, the radio, how these firms manage their innovation
music players, and now the iPod and iPhone processes. We identified a basic pattern
integration. which showed us that innovations are not
generated solely by research and develop-
innoVation innovations that drivers ment engineers but also by customers and
can see and feel … employees — in other words, a community.
exactly. The issue of innovation is thus each company we visited has a slightly
of key importance for our brand, especially different definition of what constitutes such
in areas where we’re already very strong, a community. At some firms, any employee
like safety and comfort. Here i’m not just can suggest an idea that will then be further
referring to traditional parameters like ride developed. in extreme cases, a company
and handling or driving comfort but also will post a question on the internet and pay
to things like easy operation, relaxation, a reward for the best solution. i particularly
and the convenience of telematics applica- like iBM’s “innovation Jam” for company-
tions. in these areas, our lab in Palo Alto wide brainstorming campaigns, which was
is perfectly placed to point the way toward launched a couple of years ago.
the future.
PlatForm how do you transfer these
mElting Pot what makes the de- approaches to a german company?
velopment lab in northern California so Good question. The first thing is to de-
important for Daimler? termine what fits in best with the German
Silicon Valley, and especially Palo Alto, mentality. We decided to start with an inno-
is a melting pot for innovation and innova- vation Jam like iBM’s because Germans are
tive thinking. People here have no problem used to structured processes. We divided
adopting completely new approaches, our first jam into three issue areas, each
and this is what generates fresh ideas and headed by a moderator who led the discus-

46 T
­

Technicity_40-47_iPhone_E.indd 8 30.03.10 10:56


e by Communities.”
sion. Since then we’ve further developed the QualitY Can you give us an example?
idea and established a community platform Sure, let’s look at the speedometer. i can
that was launched at our research and devel- imagine being able to customize a digital
opment organization last october. display for this device much in the way this
is already possible in the S-Class. But who
CustomEr in the age of the inter- is going to ensure the quality of the new
net, customers are also now proposing display? And who will be liable if the display
solutions or even new products. Do you gives a slightly incorrect reading and tells
believe this offers a possibility for a me i’m only going at 70 kilometers an hour
brand like mercedes-Benz to obtain when i’m really going at 80? Quality assur-
new ideas, especially when it comes to ance and liability have their own unique
comfort and user interfaces? significance when you’re dealing with
i’d like to start a discussion on this automobiles. A vehicle is much more than
topic, but even if it offers potential it won’t just code. Software leads the way to a func-
release us from our obligation to develop tion. And that function is associated with
clever solutions ourselves. i don’t think cus- an optical, acoustic, or tactile experience —
tomers alone can answer the key questions regardless of whether we’re talking about
related to comfort and user-friendliness. the sound system or the brakes. •
There’s also the danger that user-generated
solutions will focus too much on specific
regions. Take the touchscreen, which is
very popular in the U.S. but is having prob-
lems gaining acceptance in europe. This
is one area where we need to offer a bal-
anced solution that will work for europeans,
Americans, and Asians alike.

staBilitY some visionaries dream


of making vehicles as easy to configure
as an iPhone through the ability to down-
load new software for modernizing a car
or expanding its functions.
There’s a basic difference between a
laptop or iPhone and an automobile: if the
computer crashes you have a system reset
button to restart it, but that won’t work
in a vehicle. you can’t reset a car while
it’s in motion. This fact is largely ignored
by the people who make those kinds of
predictions. All of the systems in a vehicle
must be stable. What’s more, you need
to exclude any negative interaction with
equipment or systems that are critical
to safety and whose inclusion has been
stipulated by law.

DAiMler-TeCHniCiTy.CoM 47

Technicity_40-47_iPhone_E.indd 9 30.03.10 10:56


ANALOGY

Energy-saving tips in On-demand activation of air


instrument cluster conditioning system compressor

Automatic start/stop
More aerodynamic function On-demand activation
exterior mirrors of power-steering pump

Lightweight materials
in the vehicle body

Extended rear axle ratio

Lowered vehicle body

Low rolling-resistance tires

Completely clad
underbody

Engine downsizing Sealed


headlight joins
Braking energy
recovery

BlueeFFICIeNCY
Under the designation BlueEFFICIENCY, Mercedes-Benz has assembled a package of
measures that reduces a vehicle’s energy consumption and thus its emissions.
The holistic approach is the key — the sum of many detailed solutions adds up to the
desired energy saving.

48 T

Technicity_48-49_Analogie_E.indd 2 30.03.10 11:00


heat recovery
from waste air

Sealed building
envelope

Southern exposure

Water-saving taps
in the house

Insulated hot water


pipes in the house

No shading

Triple-glazed windows
with argon gas filling

Solar energy
(or heat pump)
for hot water

heat radiated by
the occupants

Automatically controlled
living area ventilation

Waste heat from


electrical appliances

Optimally insulated walls

No cooling water flow


when the engine is cold
Preheating of fresh air
by ground-coupled heat
exchanger

Completely clad
engine compartment
On-demand activation
of fan louver
Insulated foundations

PassIvhaus BuIldINgs
houses built to the Passivhaus standard obtain most of their energy for heating from pas-
sive sources such as incident solar radiation and waste heat. They normally utilize a
heat recovery ventilation system. here too, the combination of numerous measures adds
up to substantial energy savings.

DAIMLEr-TEChNICITY.COM 49

Technicity_48-49_Analogie_E.indd 3 30.03.10 11:01


New York‘s newest attractions
are built by us.
It‘s not just the tourists who are pleased about the new sights in the Big Apple. So are
the passengers. That‘s because the urban buses from our Orion brand are equipped with
low-consumption hybrid drive, meaning that they make an important contribution towards
climate protection. There are more than 3,000 of these innovative buses on the road in
major US cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Another milestone on our
Road to Emission-free Mobility.

www.daimler.com

Technicity_50-51_Opener_E.indd 50 30.03.10 11:01


Vision fiction station

a clear Vision is the basis of innovation. research vehicles like the mercedes-Benz F800
Style combine numerous high-tech applications — and offer a breathtaking glimpse of the
premium automobile of the future. (Page 52)

Descriptions of the world of tomorrow are far more than fiction, as futurologists are very
much aware. The latter investigate the trends that will shape the markets of tomorrow. Their
focus is context-oriented, forward-looking, interdisciplinary, and international. (Page 62)

From station to station, our author accompanied the traffic expert Dan Sperling, an advi-
sor of california Governor arnold Schwarzenegger. During the drive, Sperling explained why
the presence of two billion vehicles on the planet would be a challenge, but not necessarily
a problem. (Page 74)

Daimler-TechniciTy.com 51

Technicity_50-51_Opener_E.indd 51 30.03.10 11:02


lED hEADlIGhTS | LED-ScHEINWERfER

Expressive “face”

headlights
• Advanced light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
• Fiber optics with high light efficiancy and low energy
consumption
• Strikingly attractive touches
• Dynamic look

SIDEwAll | SEITENfLANKE

Emotion-inspiring tension

Design features
• Organically stretched body surfaces
• Convex transition zones and precisely
curved lines
• Visible structuring of the vehicle body
• Highly dynamic character
• Roofline underscores the coupe’s aerodynamic design

TYPE | TYP TOPIC | THEMA

F800 STYlE DESIGN I DESIGN


COMMENT | KOMMENTAR

The f800 Style research car combines the functionality of a five-seater premium-class sedan with the
highly emotional design idiom of the new Mercedes-Benz design.
YEAR | JAHR 2010 RATING | BEWERTUNG Tomorrow’s design and technology – today.

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EMOTIONAl FORMAl IDIOM | EMOTIONALE fORMENSPRAcHE
sTyle
The f800 Style provides a glimpse of the highly emotive Mercedes-Benz design of the
future. The car’s exterior appearance is marked by a long wheelbase, short body overhangs,
and an elegantly flowing, coupe-like roofline. Dynamic lines and balanced proportions ensure
a look that conveys style and authority. At the front of the car, the radiator grille is con-
trasted in an eye-catching manner by the smoothly framed, centrally placed star. At night,
the vehicle’s stylish rear section is accentuated by LED taillights.

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F800 STYlE | f800 STYLE

length (mm): 4,738


width (mm): 1,938
height (mm): 1,445
wheelbase (mm): 2,924
Inertia class (kg): 1,700
Tires: 215/45 R 20

TYPE | TYP TOPIC | THEMA

F800 STYlE SAFETY | SIcHERHEIT


COMMENT | KOMMENTAR

The research car embodies the rigorous continuation of Mercedes-Benz’ assistance


and safety philosophy. The goal is accident-free driving.
YEAR | JAHR 2010 RATING | BEWERTUNG The vision of accident-free driving is becoming a reality.

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TRAFFIC JAM VEhIClE FOllOw ASSIST
STAUfOLGEfAHRASSISTENT

Reducing driver stress


ElECTRONIC EYES | ELEKTRONIScHE AUGEN

Stereo camera to detect spatial depth at a range of up to 50 meters.


Short-range radar with a range of 30 meters.
long-range radar with a range of 200 meters.

The tried and tested DISTRONIc PLUS system in the f800


Style has been enhanced to include the Traffic Jam Assis-
tant function. By means of targeted steering corrections,
the car follows the vehicle ahead even in curves – a world
first. The Traffic Jam Assistant works with short-range and
long-range radar sensors. The stereo camera makes it
possible to detect and interpret the spatial depth and speed
of movement of other road users. It works at speeds of up
to 40 km/h.

INTEllIGENT TEChNOlOGY | INTELLIGENTE TEcHNIK

ACCIDENT-FREE DRIVING | UNfALLfREIES fAHREN The f800 Style is also equipped with the innovative occupant protection system
It is Daimler’s stated goal to turn the vision of accident-free driving into PRE-SAFE 360°, which delivers even greater passive safety. It also monitors the
reality. All of its assistance systems are designed to do this by reducing driver area behind the vehicle and helps to prevent secondary accidents. The brakes
stress and thus ensuring a safer journey. are applied about 600 milliseconds before the vehicle is struck from the rear.
One example is the DISTRONIc PLUS Traffic Jam Assistant: At very low The primary benefit of this is that the vehicle, which is already stationary, isn’t
speeds in heavy traffic it regulates the distance from the vehicle ahead, all propelled into an intersection or a pedestrian crosswalk, for instance. The driver
the way down to a standstill, while also automatically following the driver remains in control. The brake is immediately released if, for example, the driver
ahead through curves – for improved convenience and active traffic safety. hits the gas pedal because there is sufficient space in front of his or her own
vehicle to avoid a rear impact.

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COzY INTERIOR | WOHLfüHLINNENRAUM

Partly transparent roof: Light-flooded interior


Cockpit design: Ample legroom for the occupants
Range on Map: The electric drive’s range at a glance
Mirror display: Longer viewing distances are easier on the eyes
Cam touchpad: Easier operation with less distraction
Natural wood veneer with aluminum core: Design and superior safety

lIGhTwEIGhT SEAT | LEIcHTBAUSITz

Function and design

The lightweight seats in the f800 Style consist of a wood-


veneered magnesium shell and a carbon fiber laminate
backrest structure, across which a fine yet wear-resistant
netting is stretched. Wood veneer lends a special touch.
Thanks to an aluminum core, all wood elements meet the
typical Mercedes-Benz crash protection requirements.

TYPE | TYP TOPIC | THEMA

F800 STYlE COMFORT | KOMfORT


COMMENT | KOMMENTAR

The interior is characterized by a light contemporary ambience – functional elements


seem to float in space like sculptures.
YEAR | JAHR 2010 RATING | BEWERTUNG Wood elements and an attractive color scheme ensure a pleasant interior.

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hMI CAM-TOuCh-PAD | HMI cAM-TOUcH-PAD

Simple and safe interaction

The innovative HMI cam-touch-pad detects the movements


of the user’s hand over the touchpad and shows them on
the central display superimposed on the active menu func-
tions, which can then be selected at the touch of a finger.
The cam touchpad recognizes finger movements such as
wiping, pushing, rotating, and zooming, allowing intuitive
use of a variety of vehicle systems, including the Internet.
DOOR CONCEPT | TüRKONzEPT One new function is Range on Map. At a glance, the central
display depicts the remaining possible travel radius with
electric vehicle operation as a 360° view on a map.

The swivel arm for the rear door is mounted on the c-pillar, so the entire space is
available for getting into and out of the car when the door is opened.

PIVOT-AND-SlIDE DOORS | ScHWENKScHIEBETüREN

The door concept of the f800 Style is a particularly customer-friendly innovation. The
front doors are attached to the A-pillar in the conventional manner and open toward the front,
but the rear doors slide backward when opened, revealing – because the design dispenses
with a B-pillar – a large opening that makes it easy to get in and out of the car. To make
this possible, the Mercedes-Benz engineers created an entirely new opening mechanism: Each
of the rear doors is suspended from an interior swivel arm with sophisticated kinematics,
which is mounted on the c-pillar.

The front doors of the f800 Style open toward the front as usual; the rear doors
slide backward.

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Displacement (l): 3.5
Rated output of gasoline engine (kw): approx. 220
Rated output of electric motor (kw): approx. 80
Total output (kw): approx. 300
Acceleration 0 -100 km/h (s): 4.8
Top speed, electronically limited (km/h): 250
Top speed on electric power, electronically limited (km/h): 120
Fuel consumption (l/100 km): 2.9*
Electric range (km): 30
Total range (km): approx. 700
CO2 emissions (g/km): 68
Emissions rating: EU 6
Energy content of lithium-ion battery (kwh): > 10
* NEDc overall consumption, preliminary value

PluG-IN hYbRID | PLUG-IN HYBRID

Optimized for fuel economy and emissions


As a Plug-in HYBRID, the f800 Style offers
Operating and control electronics 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission Fuel tank up to 30 kilometers of electric mobility with
zero local emissions. Over longer distances,
a gasoline engine equipped with the latest
direct-injection technology is supported
Onboard loader
by the hybrid module. The result is a high-
performance, efficient driving experience.
The certified fuel consumption is only 2.9
liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers, with
correspondingly low cO2 emissions of only 68
grams per kilometer.

V6 gasoline engine hybrid module lithium-ion battery

TYPE | TYP TOPIC | THEMA

F800 STYlE DRIVES I ANTRIEBE


COMMENT | KOMMENTAR

The f800 Style harmonizes the requirements of mobility and environmental protection.
The planned drive concepts are pioneering.
YEAR | JAHR 2010 RATING | BEWERTUNG The car of the future offers the same degree of flexible mobility that we enjoy today.

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Rated output (kw/hp): approx. 100/136
Rated torque (Nm): approx. 290
Acceleration 0 -100 km/h (s): 11
Top speed, electronically limited (km/h): 180
hydrogen consumption (kg/100 km): 0.9*
CO2 emissions (g/km): 0

:Range (km):
215/45 R 20approx. 600
Energy content of lithium-ion battery (kwh): 1.4
* NEDc overall consumption, corresponds to 3.0 liters of diesel equivalent

F-CEll | f-cELL

The only emission: water vapor


The f-cELL variant of the f800 Style is
Fuel cell lithium-ion battery equipped with an onboard fuel cell unit that
runs on hydrogen. As a consequence, the
vehicle produces zero pollutant emissions.
The only thing emitted from fuel cell-powered
electric cars is water vapor. The f800 Style
is the world’s first fuel-cell vehicle with
rear-wheel drive; the car’s electric motor is
installed directly between the rear wheels.

Electric motor
hydrogen tanks with reduction gear

VARIAblE VEhIClE | VARIABLE fAHRzEUGARcHITEKTURARChITECTuRE

The engineers equipped the f800 Style with a variable vehicle architecture, This modular system offers various options when it comes to output and inten-
making it suitable for use with a variety of alternative drive systems. Examples ded use. What’s more, all of the hybrid drive variants can be realized. The f800
include the Plug-in HYBRID and f-cELL variants presented here, which can be Style with f-cELL also benefits from this modular system, which has provided
easily realized in the f800 Style. To help with the design of hybrid vehicles, its electric motor and the powerful lithium-ion battery, for example. Another
Daimler has developed a scalable modular system with all the necessary indication of the everyday practicality of the f800 Style concepts is the car
technical components. trunk’s generous capacity of 440 liters in all variants.

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L
et’s embark on a short journey into the future. Wel- er, the design also lends the car a very elegant appearance. And in
come to the year 2020. The world’s population has the interior, the innovative seats of the f800 Style are designed for
increased from 6.8 billion in early 2010 to 7.6 bil- maximum comfort on long trips. The basic structure of magnesium
lion. Most people are living and working in cities, and and a carbon fiber laminate backrest, over which a fine yet resistant
the trend toward city dwelling is intensifying further. netting is stretched, makes the seats lightweight but very stable. In
Family, friends, work, leisure, and the home – these aspects terms of the sum of the parts, this is both a functional solution and
continue to dominate daily life. Priorities have shifted some- an aesthetic delight.
what, however. When it comes to making decisions, many people
are now concentrating on how their choices will improve their
personal quality of life. The well-thought-out solution is the better solution: This guiding
principle applies to nearly every issue shaping everyday life
in the year 2020, and always with the ultimate aim of improving
In 2010 the Mercedes-Benz f800 Style has good reason to claim that the quality of life. For jobs where teleworking is a viable option,
it will be the automobile of the future. Each of the car’s individual the numbers of teleworking positions are continuing to rise.
characteristics is a symbol of people’s desire for a better quality This not only eliminates a source of stress but also gives
of life. “We are dedicated to harmonizing our responsibility for people more time. After all, the beneficiaries no longer have to
the environment with practical customer utility in a fascinating auto- fight their way through traffic jams or suffer in overcrowded
mobile,” says Thomas Weber, the Daimler Board of Management commuter trains every morning at 8:00 a.m. and every afternoon
member responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz cars at 4:00 p.m. Another example of well-thought-out solutions is
Development. The research vehicle combines this commitment to provided by decentralized supply parks, which make shopping
leadership when it comes to innovative drive concepts with the quick and convenient thanks to a variety of mobility platforms
traditional strengths of Mercedes-Benz in the areas of styling, safety, – including the automobile with its environmentally friendly
comfort, and outstanding performance. drive system.

In 2020 energy – a commodity that was once used almost The Mercedes-Benz f800 Style has been designed for use with
wastefully – has become, quite literally, of very great value. different drive systems. The aim here is not only to accommodate
Energy plays a valuable role in helping us shape our daily lives, the engineers’ desire to test the drives but also to show that it is
whether we are at home, at work, or on the move. Environmental possible to offer a vehicle model with a wide variety of drive sys-
awareness has increased as a result — as has the determination tems, as has previously been the case. The drive systems involved
to preserve the Earth’s ecological balance. People are taking range from the very low-emission Plug-in HYBRID, which combines
account of a far wider range of factors in planning their everyday an electric motor with a combustion engine, to the zero-emission
lives, particularly with regard to energy issues. In this context, f-cELL, an electric vehicle in which the energy is supplied by a fuel
well-thought-out solutions are the better solutions. For example, cell. customers choose which variant they would like, in line with their
houses with self-climatizing walls and circulating air produce preferences and needs. Thomas Weber points out that “hybrid and
a comfortable basic indoor climate in hot and cold regions alike fuel cell electric drives are two key components of a broad range of
– without the need for air conditioning systems or any additional drive systems with which we plan to fulfill customer’s mobility require-
energy input. ments both today and in the future.” Daimler’s road to sustainable
mobility is a “three-lane highway” encompassing the optimization of
vehicles with advanced combustion engines, further gains in efficien-
“Green” design was a key factor in the creation of the f800 Style. cy through tailored hybridization, and locally emission-free driving in
The objective was to realize an environmentally friendly vehicle that electric vehicles powered by fuel cells or batteries. The f800 Style’s
also looked the part. One look at the research vehicle’s body design, drive concepts document how this thinking will be fulfilled in the near
for example, makes it clear that the aim was to achieve a low coeffi- future. In fact, series production of the Plug-in HYBRID is in sight,
cient of drag and thus create an energy-efficient automobile. Howev- with the market launch of the Mercedes-Benz S-cLASS scheduled for

TYPE | TYP TOPIC | THEMA

F800 STYlE FuTuRE I zUKUNfT


COMMENT | KOMMENTAR

The future gets a fresh start every day. And while the car of tomorrow will be different from
the vehicles we know today, it will still be an important feature in our everyday lives.
TEXT | TEXT Rüdiger Abele

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text illustrations
Dirk Maxeiner Helena Dietrich

FUTURE 
Gazing
Looking ahead:
Thirty years of futurology at Daimler

PersPectives for tomorrow Futurology is a well-respected


profession, but it has one major occupational hazard: the constant future focus The Society and Technology Research Group is
danger of being mistaken for fortune-telling. There’s something about part of the Daimler Center for Society, Vehicle Concepts, and Hu-
this line of work that makes people expect to see smoke and mirrors man-Machine Interaction, which is headed by Claus Ehlers. For the
and more than a hint of drama. The historical benchmark was estab- past 30 years, it has been investigating the trends that shape the
lished by the notoriously vague oracle at Delphi in ancient Greece. markets of tomorrow, primarily in relation to the automotive sector.
Later, the high priests of ancient Rome were no slouches either, as Its focus is interdisciplinary, international, and future-oriented.
they pored over the entrails of animals and furrowed their brows. In In cooperation with customers from Daimler, the research group
more modern times, the soothsayers had high hopes that supercom- draws up possible future scenarios. These lead to the creation of
puters might be able to spit out the secrets of the future. platforms on which products, strategies, organizational forms, and
The futurologists at Daimler, however, make no such claims. Here working processes can be designed and developed. The team’s
in Berlin, Germany, in the large, open-plan office on Potsdamer Platz, publications include the annual publication delta report, which pro-
the atmosphere is more one of restrained seriousness. There’s not a vides decision-makers at Daimler with an overview of strategically
crystal ball in sight as the 40 or so researchers go about their busi- important developments.
ness of plotting out conceivable long-term automotive market devel-
opments. Instead of tinkering with rocket engines or cars with wings,
a group of young and casually dressed researchers gathers before a
research toPics
flipchart bearing the words “Future Urban Mobility.” Frank Ruff and
• Regional perspectives
Thomas Waschke, who jointly head Daimler’s Society and Technology
• Social change, lifestyles, consumption
Research Group in Berlin, are both pretty sober, level-headed charac-
• Mobility, transportation, traffic
ters. The word “forecast,” for example, doesn’t crop up as often as
• Energy, resources, environment
one might expect.
• Innovation, value creation, organization

1. Respect for the future name: Society and Technology Research Group (STRG)
founded: 1979
test lab berlin For the futurologist, the chief tools of the trade unit: Society, Vehicle Concepts, and Human-Machine Interaction
are scenarios. Now, the attractive thing about a scenario is that it is director: Claus Ehlers
a modest, unassuming version of prediction. The aim is not to arrive based: Berlin, Böblingen, and Palo Alto
at a cast-iron forecast, but instead to sketch out a variety of possible emPloyees: Approximately 40
futures. The next step is to distinguish between the more or less prob- Projects: > 300
able and the more or less desirable ones. “Unfortunately, the desir-
able scenarios are not always the most probable,” says Waschke. “But
we can’t paint the world to suit our preferences.”
Steeped in history, the home of the Daimler research team teach- HYPERLINK 
es us more than a little respect for the vagaries of the future. After
all, Potsdamer Platz was once Germany’s busiest traffic junction and, Further information on this article is available online at:
in 1925, the site of the country’s first traffic lights. Only a few years daimler-technicity.com/managementandprocesses

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HoRSE oR CAR?
Kaiser Wilhelm II was wrong to predict the
disappearance of the automobile.

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SL oR SMART?
Future vehicle concepts must satisfy require-
ments regarding quality of life, sustainability,
aesthetics, design, and modern technology.

previously, Kaiser Wilhelm II had confidently predicted: “My money’s An interdisciplinary team of psychologists, economists, communica-
on the horse — the automobile’s just a passing fad.” Twenty-five years tions experts, business experts, physicists, and philosophers helps
later, Potsdamer Platz was little more than a wasteland, ravaged by with this task. “Looking at the future requires input from a whole
World War II and then abandoned as a no man’s land between the range of academic horizons and cultural backgrounds,” says Ruff. “By
East and the West. Then of course everything changed with the fall adopting such an approach, it’s possible to gain insight into how tech-
of the Berlin Wall in 1989 — an event that hadn’t been predicted by nical, economic, and social developments combine to bring about
contemporary analysts. change. That’s why it’s important to not only maintain contact with
Daimler’s futurology activities have been based in Berlin for the various outside experts and researchers in other fields, but also to
last 30 years. In 1994, in response to globalization, an offshoot was consider different views and mindsets in other spheres of social life.”
opened in Palo Alto, California. Back in 1979, however, there were a To take a very simple example, more and more people now live
number of good reasons for deciding to locate the research group on their own. And obviously, those people want something different
“Transport, Environment, Future” in Germany’s divided city. Not only from the traditional family car. While an understanding of the different
did Berlin have a rich and diverse scientific community and an in- lifestyles that people might lead now and in the future is not neces-
ternational atmosphere — the city itself was also essentially a huge sarily within the classic “system boundaries” of an automobile manu-
social experiment. At the same time, the decision had a clear political facturer, “strategic foresight” can provide valuable information when
dimension. In opting for Berlin, Daimler-Benz (as the company was it comes to decision-making.
then called) was making a clear commitment to the city itself and its A recent and highly concrete example of strategic foresight and
status as an outpost of freedom. Obviously, the future can be actively successful cooperation between the Daimler futurologists and vehicle
shaped — by each of us, every day — rather than just passively en- developers is provided by the latest range of vans and their equipment
dured. Perhaps this is why one of the research department’s maxims lines. The day when a couple of young entrepreneurs had the idea
reads as follows: “Although we can’t know the future, we can prepare of setting up an online auction house for secondhand goods was a
ourselves for it. But to do so, we need to understand that it is we momentous day for commercial vehicle manufacturers. “The growing
ourselves who shape our future.” success of Internet companies such as eBay and Amazon made us
think about how this new business sector might influence the design
of our vans,” Waschke recalls. The result was a comprehensive ques-
tionnaire for the development unit to mull over: How large would the
2. Broadening horizons parcels be? How could the shelving in the vehicle be best designed
to accommodate individual deliveries? What could be done to make
strategic foresight In retrospect, the decision to set up a satel- getting in and out of the vehicle easier? How should the cockpit be
lite group to analyze “nontechnical future developments related to the designed so that drivers can plan and navigate their rounds from the
automotive sector” was an inspired one, taken by the engineers who comfort of the driving seat?
have traditionally formed the company’s backbone. “Other automak-
ers weren’t anything like as advanced as we were, back then,” says
Ruff, a psychologist and sociologist. He describes the team’s area of
activity as “strategic foresight at the company’s system boundaries.”

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3. Keeping options open

timescales Since 1979, Daimler futurologists have worked on


more than 300 projects in order to draw up a series of strategies for
dealing with what remains, by nature, an uncertain future. The classic
challenge facing automakers is a decision-making one. They are only
too well aware that the decisions taken today will have consequences
for the next 20 years. After all, we shouldn’t forget that the vehicles
currently emerging from design studios will still be in use two de-
cades from now. In this context, making the “right” decision means
keeping as many options open as possible. Moreover, such decisions
involve questions that are not only technical but also social. One of
the chief tasks of the Daimler futurologists is to provide engineers
and marketing experts with complementary information that makes
it easier to predict whether a chosen product strategy will be in har-
mony with future developments. Automobile manufacturers have to
operate according to various timescales, and this continually leads
to conflicting objectives. What seems to make sense for the next five
years could prove to be a major catastrophe in 20 to 30 years’ time,
and vice versa.
The following are just a few of the key questions currently being
addressed by the futurologists: How will new and growing markets,
such as China and India, develop in the future? Will the automobile
turn out to be a less suitable form of transport in an increasingly
urban environment? What do current mobility patterns and mobility
types look like, and how will they change in the future? What role will
commercial vehicles play in a changed economic context? Will the
automobile cease to be a form of self-expression? And by associa-
tion, how will we define luxury in the future? Similarly, what will give
life meaning? MAn oR woMAn?
Growing individualization, pluralization, and
According to Ruff, in order to answer these questions the crucial emancipation lead to new lifestyles with different
thing is to keep an open mind. One of the most important things is not mobility requirements.
to believe what everyone one else automatically accepts at face val-
ue. We must learn to question the conventional wisdom that produces

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GASoLInE oR ELECTRICITy?
Making the right decisions means keeping as
many options open as possible — a maxim that
also applies to new drive technologies.

FISH oR VEHICLE?
Nature has had around four billion years to
perfect its designs — which is precisely what
makes it of such interest to vehicle developers.

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truisms of the kind: “Everyone knows that nobody in China cares lishes what Waschke calls a “hotline to the zeitgeist.” And this is cru-
about the environment.” Is that statement really true? The answer is cial when it comes to answering the big question that is currently
no. In fact, China has now introduced forceful environmental legisla- taxing the brains of the futurologists in Berlin, namely: How will our
tion, although the pressure to do so didn’t come from the grass roots attitude to the automobile change? And, by association, a question
— in other words, it wasn’t the Chinese people and environmental with particular relevance to Daimler: What will we regard as luxury in
organizations that forced the change of heart. “Instead, in China it’s the future?
the government that has been addressing this issue. In other words,
the pressure came from above.” As far as automobile manufactur-
ers are concerned, this may have interesting consequences. Perhaps
China will end up promoting the cause of electric vehicles sooner 5. Finger on the pulse
than other countries.
building blocks for tomorrow The observations of this
young elite in the major cities of the world can help provide a toolkit
for the future. Ruff reels off a list of headings that might help define
4. Hotline to the zeitgeist luxury in the coming decades: “Quality of life, sustainability, aesthet-
ics, design, modern technology.” These are the kinds of concepts
a question of luxury Anyone who is prepared to look at the that awaken the interest of Claus Ehlers, Director of the new Cen-
world as closely as Ruff, Waschke, and their colleagues do can expect ter for Society, Vehicle Concepts, and Human-Machine Interaction.
to make some surprising discoveries. Take Saudi Arabia, for example. “They have their finger on the pulse,” says Ehlers, referring to the
As we all know, or at least think we do, women there have a low social Berlin futurologists, who also belong to his organization. “Their input
status. “Careful!” says Ruff. “The ratio of male to female graduates flows into our pool of knowledge and is then broken down alongside
in Saudi Arabia is already two to three!” In other words, a manufac- analyses from customer and market research in order to create fu-
turer of premium automobiles shouldn’t assume that in this region it’s ture vehicle concepts.”
always the men who decide what products to buy. Or let’s consider It is Ehlers’ job to come up with research and concept vehicles
the situation in Africa. We all believe that Africa will never sort out its that point the way toward the vehicle and mobility requirements of
problems, right? “A few years ago, the situation in Angola was par- the future. And here the issues are not only especially efficient drive
ticularly critical; today it’s the fastest-growing market in Africa,” Ruff technologies and safety systems but efficiency as an inherent fea-
explains. “In our opinion, it’s important to keep an eye on a country ture — for example, in vehicle interiors and new materials. In addition
like that!” to being aesthetically pleasing, the latter should also be able, for
Of particular interest to Waschke and his team is what he calls the example, to eliminate temperature differences, thus reducing the
“young elite” — these are the urban dwellers who “set and reinforce requirement for heating and air conditioning.
the trends that will later trickle down to society as a whole.” Every Ehler’s Berlin team of futurologists often provides the designer
now and again, Waschke invites a member of this group to spend engineers with tips from completely different fields. Inspiring ideas
some time as an intern at Potsdamer Platz in order to help enrich might come from an exhibition of zero energy buildings, for example,
the diversity of ideas there. “What we think today will determine how or a competition for young fashion designers. “We’re constantly on
people live tomorrow,” wrote the celebrated Spanish philosopher and the lookout for unusual connections,” Ruff explains. “As a futurolo-
essayist Ortega y Gasset. gist, you’re on duty all the time.”
One of the budding young employees is busy investigating the On occasion, even a religious text can bring inspiration. St. Au-
topic of sustainable urban planning, another is working on the future gustine, for example, is credited with a sentence that expresses the
directions of globalization. Above and beyond the input that comes very essence of futurology: “The quest itself reveals more than its
from such concrete projects, this form of collaboration also estab- object.” •

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2011. In addition, production of a small batch of fuel cell electric cars Improved protection against rear-end collisions is provided by PRE-
based on the current Mercedes-Benz B-class for selected customers SAfE 360°, which also monitors the area behind the vehicle. If a rear-
has already begun. end collision appears imminent, the system activates the brakes of
the vehicle. This prevents the impact from propelling the stationary
car into an intersection or pedestrian crossing. Secondary accidents
In 2020 people are acting with a new sense of maturity, because are avoided as a result. It goes without saying that the driver always
they understand the impact of their decisions on their imme- retains control over the car. The brake is immediately released, for
diate environment and therefore on their own lives. This new instance, when a driver who sees that there is sufficient space in front
awareness is demonstrated in people’s attitudes toward energy, of his or her own car hits the gas pedal to avoid the vehicle approach-
mobility, and food. What’s more, they understand that they ulti- ing from the rear.
mately bear responsibility for their own actions. And they don’t
consider this responsibility to be a burden. Instead, it is
the key to even greater freedom and a better quality In 2020 the search for well-thought-out solutions is
of life. This new sense of maturity was already particularly influencing how technology is used.
evident in 2010, as could be seen from the People don’t always use the simplest or most
widespread use of the Internet, a tool that complex solution, nor do they automatically
enables users to gather the best informa- opt for the least costly or most expensive
tion in order to make their own decisions. one. Instead, they use the solution that
Acting independently and responsibly best meets their requirements and, for
remains an important element of every- example, represents the best compro-
day life in 2020. mise between resource conservation and
convenience. Such a device might be a
cell phone that doesn’t have the full range
Engineers and designers have been address- of technically feasible features, but in-
ing the issues related to onboard Internet ac- stead provides the required features in a
cess for several years now. from a technical totally reliable manner. Or it could be a car
point of view, it would be easy to connect a vehicle whose characteristics are exactly tailored to
to the World Wide Web. Accessing the Internet in a car meet the driver’s mobility needs. But this approach
is much different from using it elsewhere, however. The cam to the use of technology doesn’t mean that people only
touchpad in the f800 Style is a good example of how Internet opera- act rationally or that emotional factors no longer play a role in
tion can be made intuitive. This feature is obviously suited to other their decisions. Instead, it means that people are more conscious
uses as well, including operation of the air conditioning, the audio of how they use technology.
system, and other vehicle functions. What’s more, it enhances safety
by ensuring an even lower level of driver distraction than is the case
with currently used systems. The conscious use of technology is already exemplified by the
The f800 Style also features other innovations aimed at improv- Mercedes-Benz f800 Style. The car is a sophisticated high-tech
ing active and passive safety, including the DISTRONIc PLUS Traffic product with which the brand is taking its “fascination and responsi-
Jam Assistant, which further reduces driver stress in congested bility” pledge to an entirely new level. And when it comes to mobility,
traffic. The system carries out targeted steering movements in order that’s exactly what every new vehicle has done during the company’s
to ensure that the driver’s car follows the vehicle in front even when almost 125-year history. The f800 Style is thus a perfect expression
driving along curves. However, the system recognizes the difference of Gottlieb Daimler’s maxim “the best or nothing” – something he
between driving along a curved road and turning, which means always demanded for himself and his customers. What’s more, it
it doesn’t “blindly” follow the vehicle in front – for example, when it is also a particularly dynamic interpretation of the “fascination and
changes lanes in order to exit the highway. Drivers can, of course, responsibility” theme – one that inspires us to look forward to the
override the system at any time. future. Is it possible to pay a greater tribute to a research vehicle? •

MObIlITY OF ThE FuTuRE | MOBILITÄT DER zUKUNfT hYPERlINK | HYPERLINK

In the future it will be more important than ever before to harmonize the needs Further information related to this article is available at:
of mobility and environmental protection. The world’s population will continue to daimler-technicity.com/technologyandinnovation
grow, particularly in metropolitan areas, which will become increasingly crowded including the following features:
with advancing urbanization. This will result in a greater demand for mobility – and 1. How the features of the f800 Style work
consequently higher traffic densities. According to the latest studies, the total 2. Photo gallery: The f800 Style in pictures
number of automobiles in the world will double to roughly 1.8 billion vehicles by 3. Videos and animations of the f800 Style
2030. As the inventor of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz is taking responsibility for
its ongoing development – in order to provide efficient and clean drive solutions
without the need to sacrifice comfort, safety, functionality, or driving pleasure.

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TexT PhoTograPhy
Martin Schäfer Markus Bolsinger

Gorden Wagener
Design of the future: Mercedes-Benz chief designer Gorden Wagener talks
about methodology, “green thinking,” and urban design.

CurriCuluM ViTAE

+++ Born in Essen, Germany in 1968 +++ Married,


one son +++ Received honorary professorship
at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in
Budapest in 2009 +++ Studied industrial design
in Essen +++ From 1995 on, worked for Opel,
Mazda, and Volkswagen +++ In 1997 his mentor,
Peter Pfeiffer, recruited him for Mercedes-Benz
in Sindelfingen, Germany +++ Made his debut as
Head of Design in 2008 at the Paris Auto Show
with the “Concept Fascination” car +++ Heads 500
employees in five design studios worldwide +++
His masterpiece, from 2009, is the new version of
the SLS AMG gullwing car +++

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Technicity_68-69_Wagener_E.indd 2 30.03.10 11:11


Mr. Wagener, when was the last time can be calculated and identifies design as at Mercedes-Benz. For example, the average
you looked at a well-designed object that a “value driver” within a company … age of the Japanese population is increasing,
was not a car and thought to yourself, and Japanese designers recently reacted
“Wow, that’s a great design”? Do you feel a bit like an architect? to this demographic change by creating an
My favorite gadget is the iPhone. It’s After all, architects’ design ideas also “armchair on wheels.”
got a simple design and it feels high-quality. shape the image of streets and cities
But the really revolutionary thing about it is over decades. In large cities the issue of “urban green
the graphics. And graphics are becoming Architecture and design have a lot in design” is playing an ever greater role.
increasingly important for product design, common. Most of all, the two disciplines That’s true. The whole aspect of green
in cars as well. Apple has developed a are similar because of their creativity. issues is also an integral part of our design
corporate and product design that is much You can see that in Bauhaus architecture, strategy. Green issues in all their facets
clearer and easier to grasp than those of its for example. Stylish and very efficient ideas are simply a part of our new definition of
competitors. Nowadays, clear and simple have flowed into it, and they are still having luxury — which doesn’t mean that “green”
design also implies luxury. Mercedes-Benz an impact today because of their uninter- has to be defined in terms of sacrifice!
also has this kind of strong corporate rupted modernity and timelessness. That’s New technologies and drive systems such
identity. the greatest compliment that can be paid as hybrid, electric, and fuel cell drives have
to an architect or designer, even though to be presented through their design as
And how is this expressed in your very different parameters are influencing technologically sophisticated, innovative
design strategy? design and architecture today. and environmentally friendly — but also
In our design strategy we clearly aim to stylish and elegant.
create a synthesis that you could describe Can you give us an example?
as “stylish sportiness.” Today, architects and designers are How have you managed to do that
using completely different tools and meth- in your current product portfolio?
Like the design of the 300 SL gullwing ods. Take Frank Gehry, for example. His Through a particularly aerodynamic
vehicle from the 1950s? Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles was design vocabulary! One example of that is
That is the veritable incarnation of sty- designed with software that had previously the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class family. The
lish sportiness. The 300 SL has appealing only been used for freeform surfaces in E-Class is our response to the challenge of
surfaces that are beautiful and stylish. They the automotive sector. What is taking place combining style, elegance, and efficiency,
correspond to our ideal of beauty. We would in both disciplines at the moment is not which I have just sketched out. The E-Class
like to define ourselves this way in the future only a technological transformation but also coupe has a Cd figure of 0.24, which makes
as well. an interdisciplinary creative process. This, it a world champion in terms of efficient
in turn, is inspiring us and enabling us aerodynamics. And yet the coupe also has
What kind of influence do designers to overcome various limits in the area of the stylish and classic sportiness that we
have today? design as well. wanted to create.
For a creative individual, there are no
limits. The beautiful thing about design is its How is increasing urbanization influ- Let’s conclude by taking a short
universality. Design has a crucial influence encing design, and which city is generat- backward look and giving a preview of
on the success of products and thus on the ing the most interesting ideas? the future.
success of a company. Some people talk In my opinion, the Number One city of The backward look won’t be very easy,
about an intangible “design value” that the future is currently Tokyo. This city is because in the past 18 months — that is,
generating a wealth of ideas in the field of since I became Head of Design at Mercedes-
urban design that are also influencing us Benz — we’ve successfully launched more
than 13 models. We’ve received very
positive feedback on them, and we’ve also
modified our organizational structures in
the design area to meet the challenges of
the future. For example, we’ve established
centers of expertise and opened a design
studio in Japan. At the moment we’re work-
ing on our design philosophy of the future.
We’ve already given the public an initial
glimpse of it through our design sculpture in
Detroit and the F800 Style research vehicle.
As you can see, this work will continue to
be exciting for me and my team! •

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­

METROPOLIS

SINgApore 
The “tiger state” plays a key role in the electronics and bio-
PARAMETERS technology sectors, and aims to become a pioneer in terms 
SIngAPORE * of innovative transport concepts and green technology.
StatuS: Island and city-state
Founded in: 1965
area: 687 km2 ArchItecture In Singapore utilitarian structures such as subway stations and dams go far 
population (city): 4,657,452 beyond their actual functions. They serve as hallmarks of sophisticated architecture and a new 
population denSity (city): 6,779 inhabitants/km2 urban lifestyle:
• The recently completed Bras Basah MrT station in front of the art museum is 35 meters 
underground, making it the deepest subway station in Singapore. Nevertheless, it is illumi-
nated with natural light that shines down into the station through skylights. The glass roof 
panels have a special effect: When viewed from above they look like reflecting pools.
Malaysia
Malaysia • The “Marina Barrage” dam holds back a freshwater reservoir in the middle of the city. 
Singapore
In addition to providing flood protection, it has become a new leisure-time attraction for 
Singapore residents.
Indonesia

Borneo
MobIlIty When it comes to innovative transport concepts, Singapore has been a pioneer for 
years. In 2008 Singapore Mass rapid Transit (SMrT) became the first company in Southeast 
Asia  to  use  Mercedes-Benz  city  buses  with  BlueTec  5  for  its  public  transportation  service. 
The buses satisfy the euro V standard and significantly reduce fuel consumption and exhaust 
emissions. The Mercedes-Benz A-class with fuel cell drive first hit the streets of the city-state 
back in 2004. The aim of the test was to determine how reliable the fuel cell would be in a 
tropical climate. daimler-technicity.com/citiesandnetworks­

Singapore

* Source: cIA World Factbook

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A pooL oF IDeAS For cITY DWeLLerS: 
INNoVATIoNS FroM Four MAJor cITIeS.

AuSTIN 
Austin has earned a reputation as a high-tech center. 
PARAMETERS The Texas city is testing new ideas in areas including energy 
AUSTIn * supply and mobility concepts. 
StatuS: capital and fourth-largest city in the State of texas
Founded in: 1835
area: 767.28 km2 coMMunIcAtIon one of the biggest growth markets for mobile communication is location-
population (city): 750,525 based services — software that knows “who’s doing what, when, and where.” Among the most 
population (region): 1,557,829 successful  products  in  this  field  is  “gowalla,”  a  mobile  phone  program  from  Alamofire,  an 
population denSity (city): 1,152 inhabitants/km2 Austin-based development company. The software sends the precise gpS location of its user 
to selected social networks and friends.

uSa energy At what used to be Austin’s airport, a showcase example of smart grid technology 
is being created for distributing clean power with new network technologies. The effort is one 
of only 32 pilot projects in the entire u.S. to receive $10.4 million in funding from the u.S. 
auStin Department of energy.

Mexico MobIlIty The “car2go” mobility concept developed by Daimler has been in use since the 
fall of 2009. With its fleet of 200 smart fortwo cars equipped with the automatic start-stop 
Cuba feature, Austin is the first car2go city outside of germany. The project is starting out with a 
defined group of users, for example city employees. Then, in a second stage, car2go will be 
opened to the general public in Austin. daimler-technicity.com/citiesandnetworks­

auStin

 * Source: uS census Bureau

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METROPOLIS

BANgKoK 
Thailand’s capital is the new “in” metropolis for green 
PARAMETERS architecture — and thanks to Bus rapid Transit the city will 
BAngKOK * soon be a model for public transportation.
StatuS: thailand’s capital and biggest city
Founded in: 1772
area: 1,565.2 km2 ArchItecture “The Met” is a new highrise with luxury apartments that has won an architec-
population (city): 7,025,000 ture prize for being the best apartment complex. The idea was to combine a style of building 
population (region): 12,177,000 that is typical of the tropics (a mix of indoor and outdoor living) with a highrise concept. The 
population denSity (city): 4,488 inhabitants/km2 building features open spaces, verandas, and gardens, and lets in lots of light and fresh air for 
cross-ventilation.

Myanmar MobIlIty Anyone who wants to know what a true traffic jam is should visit Bangkok, where 
cars are often stuck in traffic for days. That’s why some drivers equip their vehicles with TVs, 
refrigerators, and even toilets. one strategy for coping with the everyday traffic gridlock in 
Vietnam Bangkok is BrT (Bus rapid Transit), a transport concept created to provide relief for big cities 
plagued by traffic congestion. It consists of the following elements:
BangKoK
• Big buses run at very frequent intervals on a number of trunk lines that connect with 
tHailand feeder lines coming from all areas of the city. 
• Separate traffic lanes and platform bus stops ensure that passengers can board and 
disembark safely and quickly. 
• Ticket sales and boarding controls take place outside the vehicle so that the bus can start 
off sooner. 
BangKoK • A computerized traffic management system ensures flexible control.
Mercedes-Benz is taking part in the implementation of a BrT system in Bangkok.
daimler-technicity.com/citiesandnetworks­

* Source: Department of provincial Administration Thailand

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LoNDoN
The British capital is often called the only bona fide “global 
PARAMETERS city” in all of europe. Appropriately, it is also a showcase 
LOnDOn * for the transport concepts of the future.
StatuS: capital of england and the united Kingdom
Founded in: 47
area: 1,572 km2 MobIlIty The London congestion charge is likely the world’s best-known toll. It has reduced 
population (city): 7,172,091 the traffic volume in the British capital by 15 percent. The congestion charge, the equivalent 
population (region): 13,945,000 of about 10 per day, must be paid for all vehicles driven into the center of London — except for 
population denSity (city): 4,562 inhabitants/km2 electric vehicles, such as the small fleet of electric-powered smart fortwo cars that has been 
on the city’s streets since 2008. With their 30 kW electric motors, these smart cars are so 
environmentally friendly that they aren’t subject to the toll. But their drivers wouldn’t have to 
pay the toll in any event — because the smart vehicles are being used by the London Metro-
politan police. 
Wembley Ilford
  What’s  more,  ten  7.5-ton  trucks  with  hybrid  drive  have  been  in  use  in  London  for  two 
london
Thames years. The Fuso canter eco Hybrids are made by the Daimler subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso Truck 
city and Bus corporation, which produces the truck in small batches and has been offering it in 
Hyde park
Japan since 2006. Hybrid components have been added to the series production version. The 
operators, including the logistics companies DHL, royal Mail, and TNT, are enjoying fuel sav-
greenwich ings of up to 15 percent with the hybrid vehicles, compared to conventional diesel trucks.

coMMunIty What began as a protest movement by individual nature conservationists and 
critics of capitalist economics has become a peaceful, if somewhat subversive, mass move-
ment. under the cover of darkness, faceless gardeners scatter seeds and plant flowers and 
* Source: office for National Statistics uK
shrubs, transforming dismal plots into green oases. The best-known “guerrilla gardener” is a 
London man, richard reynolds. He has written a book about guerrilla gardening and is the 
organizer of the online community guerrillagardening.org, which has 4,000 members. 
daimler-technicity.com/citiesandnetworks­

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TRANSFER
TexT PhoTograPhy
Steffan Heuer Gabriela Hasbun

“Two Billion Vehicles


Aren’t a Catastrophe”
Dan Sperling, a transportation expert in California and advisor
to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, talks about sustainable
mobility systems and the future role of private vehicles.

opposite occurs. You slowly decelerate


9:00 a.m. Creston Road your mind and get ready for your evening at
home with your family.
Professor Sperling, how do you
usually get to the UC Davis campus? What was the last great idea you
Up until a couple of months ago I lived had while driving?
in Berkeley. Back then, I simply drove down When I was working on my book
the hill and got on a shuttle bus to Davis. “Two Billion Cars” I had a lot of good ideas
During the hour-long drive on the highway, on the road. Most of them were related to
I read and answered the e-mails I had down- the book’s structure. I also had a couple
Professor Dan Sperling from the University of loaded in the morning. Sometimes I just of flashes of inspiration while driving.
California (right) with author Steffan Heuer. read or thought about things. When that happens, I call my assistant on
my hands-free cell phone and dictate the
Do you miss having that bus ride idea to her. Then, when I get to the office,
for your brainstorming? the idea is waiting for me in a file on my
Yes and no. I now live in Sacramento, computer.
about 15 minutes from the office, so I can
either take the train or drive, depending
on my mood. I’m also a member of the 9:15 a.m. Tilden Regional Park
California Air Resources Board, whose office
is located in downtown Sacramento within Why did you write “Two Billion Cars”?
walking distance from where I live. The 20 Didn’t you have more than enough to
minutes it takes to get there are extremely do with your work at the university and
productive for me. One of my colleagues the Air Resources Board?
once figured out how long the ideal com- Just about every widely-read book on
mute should be. The answer she came up transportation and energy has been written
with was 15 minutes. by journalists who interview experts like me.
Without a doubt, they deserve praise for
But how can a quarter of an hour on their efforts. However, I thought it was time
the way to work be so productive? for at least one book that addresses these
It gives you time to get ready for work subjects in an appropriate in-depth manner.
and think about the things you have to, I also wanted to look not only at the prob-
or want to, do that day. In the evening the lems but also at possible solutions.

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That’s why I systematically focused in
individual chapters on technology, consumer
behavior, and the role played by legislation
and regulations.

Let’s talk about the solutions you


mentioned. How is the world supposed
to deal with two billion cars in the year
2020?
Picture the problem as a stool with three
legs. One of them represents the vehicles,
another the fuel needed to power them, and
the third the consumers, or let’s call it the
mobility needs of human beings. The vehicle
problem is the easiest to solve — both tech-
nologically and politically. Around the globe, reading e-mails or just thinking about things: As far as Dan Sperling is concerned, the best time for
we’re already moving toward cleaner and brainstorming is during his drive to the office. However, today he has made a slight detour for an interview.
more efficient vehicles and a better legisla-
tive framework. The fuel issue is somewhat
more problematic. Progress with mobility is
slower and we’re still in the starting blocks.

Is that mainly due to the pace of


innovation when it comes to developing
better engines and fuels?
Several elements are involved here.
First of all, there’s the innovation aspect.
Secondly, there’s the issue of investment,
as well as the willingness of energy compa-
nies and consumers to embrace alternative
fuels. Alternative fuels have no natural allies,
and they aren’t backed up by an industry
with enough clout to make itself heard —

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TRANSFER

perhaps with the exception of electric ve-


hicles, which are supported by power compa-
nies. However, the situation is more difficult
when it comes to biofuels and hydrogen.

Aren’t we dealing here with wild


swings in public opinion and politicians’
attitudes? Ethanol was the first cure-all,
then it was hydrogen, and now everyone’s
raving about electric drives.
author Dan Sperling talks about his book I refer to this as the “fuel du jour”
“Two Billion Cars“. phenomenon. The media and the politicians
are always looking for the miracle cure
that will solve all our problems in one fell
swoop. However, the technologies involved
often aren’t sufficiently advanced or harbor
disadvantages that only become apparent
later on. It’s quite possible, for example, that
plug-in hybrid vehicles will turn out to be a
passing fad, as ethanol was. The toughest
nuts to crack are the consumers — the third
leg of our stool. It’s not just that we’ve made
the least progress here; we’re actually mov-
TilDen regional Park
ing in the wrong direction.

el CerriTo Tilden Regional Park


9:45 a.m. el Cerrito BART Station

el Cerrito BART Station


What do you mean, exactly? You just
said that you prefer to focus on solutions.
kenSingTon
Unfortunately, most people want to
Creston Road have ever bigger and more powerful cars.
But it’s precisely these kinds of vehicles
Cheese Board Coop that largely cancel out the progress we’ve
alBany UniverSiTy
made with modern engines. The good news
of California
is that here in California we now have a law
Berkeley
north known as SB375 that for the first time ever
Berkeley Claremont Hotel aims to reduce sprawl and restrict the use
of vehicles. each local government can draw
Berkeley up its own strategy for achieving the law’s
objectives. SB375 is part of a larger piece of
South legislation known as AB32, which I helped to
Berkeley write. AB32 is the first law in the world that
regulates emissions of greenhouse gases in
every sector of the economy.
emeryville
PieDmonT Isn’t it a little late for that? You your-
ge
Bay Brid self have calculated that we’ll have two
billion vehicles on the planet in ten years.
The fact that we’re going to have two
billion vehicles isn’t a catastrophe in itself.
even though the curve is rising sharply, we
can reduce our vehicles’ carbon footprint to
nearly zero with the technology already avail-
able today. Basically we need to continually
improve drive systems, materials, and fuels.

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even this Mercedes-Benz e-Class that we’re
sitting in can be made even more efficient. 10:15 a.m. Claremont Hotel CURRICULUM vITAE

How exactly do you plan to change Why should we give up the comfort Daniel Sperling
the driving habits of hundreds of millions and freedom of being able to hop into our 59 years old +++ Professor of Civil engineering
of people for the better? cars when we want? Who wants to have and environmental Science and Policy at the
Cars are going to evolve into hybrid to order a ride? University of California at Davis +++ Director of the
vehicles. The proportion of vehicles that run I would say that most people would Institute of Transportation Studies +++ Member
on electricity will slowly increase. Com- prefer to be chauffeured around. The best of the California Air Resources Board +++ Climate
bustion engines will become less impor- transport system is the one that offers the protection pioneer in the U.S. +++ Co-author of
tant as a result, and oil consumption will most options while ensuring that people AB32 (greenhouse gas caps) +++ One of the main
decrease. We will probably never see large don’t have to drive if they don’t want to. authors of the Climate Change Report published
cars powered solely by electricity, because Keep in mind that owning a car is very by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
they would require excessively large and expensive — and all for a vehicle that isn’t (IPCC) +++ IPCC won the nobel Peace Prize in
expensive batteries. We can get close to a even used 90 percent of the time. The 2007 together with Al Gore +++ Author of more
carbon-free mobility system by exploiting average U.S. citizen spends more than than 200 technical papers and 11 books +++
renewable energy sources to generate power $8,000 a year to operate and maintain Frequent speaker on the topics of environment
for electric cars and by increasing the use of a vehicle. If we invested the same amount and transport +++ latest book: Two Billion Cars.
alternative fuels like bio-methane. The latter of money in an integrated system that, Driving Toward Sustainability +++
can be obtained from garbage landfills, for for example, replaced second cars with
example. Fuel cells offer yet another option; an intelligent network, we’d be looking at
the hydrogen they require can be obtained a new world of possibilities. With car
from renewable sources. However, this costs sharing I could afford to drive a different
time and money. That’s why we also have car every day!
to alter our driving behavior — particularly
in terms of the number of miles driven per A modern transportation system like
person. Put simply, a higher-quality transport that sounds very convincing. However,
system that is less dependent on cars is a the automobile boom in the next few
realistic possibility. years will take place primarily in coun-
tries like China and India. In many cases
these countries lack IT infrastructure
10:00 a.m. Cheese Board Coop and other things.
The ideas I’ve touched upon have
How must we change modern society relevance worldwide, even if they’re imple-
in order to bring this about? mented differently in different countries
What’s lacking now is a network linking — including China and India. The real Walking is better: Dan Sperling strolling through
different transport options that perfectly question is how we’re going to establish Tilden Regional Park.
complement one another. In the future we’ll attractive and sustainable transport
be seeing things like on-demand shuttles systems that encourage people in those
that pick people up from their homes in countries to forgo their own private cars. HYPERLINK
response to a phone call, a text message The popul ation density in India and China
or an e-mail. A system for coordinating is so high that public transport services You’ll find further information about this article
neighborhood cars will make it easy for are widely needed. The key question is online at:
people to reach public transport connec- how to offer better-quality mobility. The daimler-technicity.com/mobilityconcepts
tions. We’ll also have car sharing services for same applies to large metropolitan areas With the following features:
those people who really need to have their in the U.S. like new York, which has plenty 1. Dan Sperling’s CV
own vehicle at certain times. Finally, we’ll of buses and trains. However, a lot of 2. Dan Sperling’s bibliography
develop dynamic ride sharing systems that people don’t use them because the quality 3. Information on climate legislation in California
will allow you to go online and see if anybody is poor. Here we should consider offering
else is heading toward your destination. If different classes of tickets for local public
so, you’ll be able to grab a ride with them. transport, as we do for long-distance trains.
Daimler has actually tested some interesting For example, those willing to pay more
carpooling concepts here and in Germany. could take a luxury bus offering WlAn,
Information technology is the key when it espresso, and other conveniences. We
comes to ensuring that all of these transport need a comprehensive network of transport
system components function smoothly. systems that serve different target groups.

DAIMleR-TeCHnICITY.COM 77

Technicity_74_77_Transfer_E.indd 5 30.03.10 11:19


2,000,000,000
2,130,000
… vehicles may be on the planet in 2020 —
but that wouldn’t be a catastrophe,
says U.S. traffic expert Dan Sperling.
Page 74

80,000
… megabytes is the size of the dataset
required for the virtual crash test of
the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Page 88

1908
… passengers are transported in Istanbul
every day by the city’s Bus Rapid
Transport System (BRT).
Page 80

135
… was the year the first electric city car,
the “Mercedes Electrique,” drove through
Berlin-Marienfelde.
Page 24

… grams is the weight of an iPhone,

39
whereas the Mercedes-Benz S-Class
weighs almost two tons. Nonetheless,
they fit together perfectly.
Page 40

1
… was the age of Gordon Wagener
when he became Head Designer at
Mercedes-Benz. A discussion about
the future of design.
Page 68

… single Mercedes-Benz F800 Style


exists — but it incorporates numerous
innovations and a fascinating design.
Page 52

Technicity_78-79_Opener_E.indd 78 30.03.10 11:22


mobilE virtual digital

Increasing urbanization is posing tremendous challenges to city planners and operators of


local public transport systems. The Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) mobility concept can help
to ensure that urban populations remain mobilE. (Page 80)

Before large sums of money are spent on tests, many processes and products are initially
developed in virtual environments. Today we are working with calculated simulations that
are visualized by means of computer-generated imagery (CGI). In industry, medicine, and art,
CGI has become indispensable. (Page 88)

TECHNICITy is a print magazine, but that’s not all. It also offers supplementary features,
interviews, and news in its digital version, thus demonstrating that each medium has
its own particular strengths. For example, the digital version offers videos and animations.
(Page 96)

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TexT PhoTograPhy
Tilman Wörtz Dawin Meckel

TRAFFIC
report
how major cities throughout the world are coming to terms with traffic
problems thanks to mobility concepts based on buses.

8:00 a.m., IsTanbul The traffic banks up at the First Bosphorus asian part of the city and conveys them to their workplace an hour’s
Bridge. The air vibrates with the honking of horns, and pungent ex- drive to the west of the center, where the headquarters of mercedes-
haust fumes are omnipresent. a heavy smog swirls under the bridge. Benz Türk are located.
oil tankers pass along the Bosphorus far below, on their way from the Selim Dallı is mercedes-Benz Türk’s expert on so-called Bus rapid
ports of the Black Sea to the mediterranean. To cross the bridge, Transit (BrT) systems, which provide dedicated traffic lanes for buses.
the morning traffic heading for the european side has to narrow after With short departure intervals, barrier-free entrances at bus stops,
the toll booths, which gives rise to long tailbacks. This spectacle is pre-ticketing and traffic prioritization, BrT systems make for brief
repeated at evening peak hour – only in the other direction. stopping times and smooth operation. Buses can therefore rush past
istanbul is the only city in the world that extends over two conti- the lines of cars and trucks uninterruptedly, thus significantly increas-
nents. its location on the Bosphorus is both a blessing and a curse, ing the effective volume of the public transport system and reducing
since its two sides are only linked by two bridges. With 13 million travel times and emissions.
inhabitants – some sources list as many as 15 million – istanbul’s BrT systems, a versatile transport solution for congested cities
population is larger than those of 105 countries. more and more peo- with a tight budget, are currently the focus of intensive discussions
ple are moving to istanbul. according to some predictions 25 million among market experts the world over. BrT is already in urban
people will be living in istanbul by 2023, commuting between asia and operation in practically every latin american country. in particular,
europe, between home and the workplace. rapidly growing economies such as india are now considering intro-
and all this with only two bridges? impossible, say city planners duction. Selim Dallı’s role is to act as a local contact for all inquiries
and transport researchers, who are feverishly developing schemes to relating to BrT.
prevent the traffic from coming to a complete standstill. everyone Within the space of just two years, the “metrobüs” has been
wants to extend the rail network, but the construction of new lines installed on one of five lanes of the e5 highway leading from
would take years and would not be possible in some areas in view of europe through istanbul to ankara – with low investment costs
istanbul’s hilly topography. nevertheless, a speedy solution to the compared to other systems worldwide and with a daily capacity of
traffic problem must be found. 715,000 passengers. Since it was not possible for a rail system
“We need planning that suitably links all transport modes and to be built on the bridge, crossing it with the metrobüs was the only
makes more efficient use of existing roads,” says 36-year-old Selim alternative.
Dallı, one of the commuters on the Bosphorus Bridge. he is sitting in
a minibus that collects him and his colleagues from their homes in the

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IsTanbul bosPhorus brIdge

Ferry oPeraTIon on The bosPhorus brT rouTe In IsTanbul unIForm PaymenT sysTem

PARAMETER
WhaT iS BrT?
name: Istanbul bus rapid transit systems (brT) are flexible bus transport systems that offer solutions
sTaTus: Turkey’s largest city to transport-related challenges including congested roads all the way up to total grid-
Founded: May 11, 330 as Constantinople lock, overburdened public transport systems, and environmental pollution.
area: 5,500 km2
PoPulaTIon (city): 12,569,000 (2008)
01 a BrT system consists of one or more trunk lines that have buses traveling at very
PoPulaTIon densITy (city): 2,400 inhabitants per km2 frequent intervals, and which are fed by several feeder lines coming from all areas
Source: ibb.gov.tr of a city.

02 They use dedicated lanes and have at-grade bus stop platforms that make entering and
exiting the vehicles fast, safe, and easy, thus speeding up the transport process.

Zincirlikuyu
03 Depending on transport requirements, BrT systems can use vehicles with more or less
capacity at the intervals required. The avoidance of unnecessary trips without passen-
IsTanbul
gers is another important contribution to reducing environmental pollution.
Topkapı

Beylikdüzü
Sögütlüçesme 04 They employ pre-boarding ticketing, which means passengers buy their tickets before
avcılar boarding the bus and admission is controlled, so less time is spent on each pickup.

05 intelligent, computer-controlled traffic management enables the flexible control of the


brT rouTes In IsTanbul The BrT route in istanbul was entire system.
planned in 4 construction phases.

Phase 1: avcılar – Topkapı (completed 09/07)


Phase 2: Topkapı – Zincirlikuyu (completed 09/08)
Phase 3: Zincirlikuyu – Sögütlüçesme (completed 03/09)
Phase 4: avcılar – Beylikdüzü (in planning)
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TraFFIc Jam ToWard euroPe doWnToWn IsTanbul brT sToP

bacKed uP ToWard asIa bosPhorus brIdge

8:15 a.m., IsTanbul avcIlar The metrobüs starts here, in the gines complying with the euro V emission standards – well in advance
west of the city. The station looks more like a subway platform. of mandatory installation – are used in line service, which shows the
The passengers pass through a turnstile and pay with an electro- importance given to the environment.
nic ticket that can be loaded at a machine. at 40-second inter- although the system greatly enhances traffic flow, 500 new vehi-
vals, two to three articulated mercedes-Benz buses can dock at cle registrations daily create new challenges. extensions of the BrT
the stations. These so-called “capacity” buses from mercedes- system are under consideration, and the rail network is also to be
Benz are manufactured in mannheim, and have four instead of greatly expanded. What transport modes are best suited to the vari-
three axles. ous parts of the city? hayri Baracli, istanbul elektrik Tramvay ve Tünel
The highway’s BrT lanes are separated from the other lanes isletmeleri (ieTT) General manager: “We have installed metrobüs on
of traffic by steel cables.in other cities, yellow lines on the road or a a route that is too hilly for a rail link.” on the other hand, Baracli
row of curbstones mark the BrT lanes. at an average speed of forty concedes that the streets in many parts of the city would be too nar-
kilometers per hour, the buses roar past the lines of cars on either row for a dedicated bus lane. here, the standard bus routes must
side, right across istanbul and even over the Bosphorus Bridge to serve as a feeder.
the asian part of town. “it used to take me two hours to get to my Selim Dallı works in close cooperation with his BrT colleagues
lectures,” says a student passenger, “but now just one.” he is not from Daimler Buses headquarters, where a special BrT team has
alone: over a third of istanbul’s citizens spend more than two hours been established. This team coordinates the bus sector’s worldwide
in city traffic. BrT activities and has competence in transport planning. Five trans-
port planners and strategists in Stuttgart group together
8:55 a.m., cITy cenTer The BrT route continues on through the the experience of their colleagues, prepare this information for
mirror-façade canyons of mecidiyeköy and Zincirlikuyu. more and presentations and consultations, and develop specific BrT strategies
more men in suit and tie come aboard here, along with sprucely for individual regions on this basis. The question arises, for example,
dressed businesswomen. The spacious air-conditioned buses re- as to whether BrT makes the air cleaner. The local BrT system brings
flect a different kind of bus transportation. about a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 623 tons per day
“istanbul is a city of the future,” says mayor and architect Kadir in istanbul.
Topbas in his foreword to the new bus schedule. “80,000 people
who used to drive to work every day now commute on the
metrobüs.” Since being put into operation, vehicles powered by en-

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When DoeS a BrT SySTem maKe SenSe?
InvesTmenT cosTs In comParIson cosT-eFFIcIenT ImPlemenTaTIon

350 The investment costs of a BrT system can be as


Subway
little as 3% of the investment costs of a subway.
80 The costs are also usually well below those of urban
70
capital costs in mill. uS$/km

railroads.
60
50 There is another advantage to BrT: From planning
40 to the start of operations takes roughly 42 months,
elevated rail
30 whereas more than ten years must be allocated for
light rail
20 a subway.
10 Bus rapid Transport

Passengers 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000


per hour
per direction

Source: lloyd Wright, Bus rapid Transit — Planning Guide 2007, new york (iTDP)

comParIson oF PlannIng and ImPlemenTaTIon TImes

BrT 2 - 3 years approx. 1 year


Planning
LIGHT rAIL 2 - 3 years approx. 3 years
implementation
METrO 3 - 4 years approx. 4 - 8 years

Years 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

sTuTTgarT, 2,000 KIlomeTers aWay “BrT is about much more necessary. They have devised a computer model for an alternative,
than just buses. it is about better transportation, and ultimately better with a few centimeters from each lane reassigned to a grass strip
quality of life,” says holger Suffel, head of marketing, Sales and after- or pedestrian path. “our model provides pedestrians with greater
sales Daimler Buses, who is responsible for the BrT team. “experience safety, and they breathe cleaner air,” explains richard mejía. one
from other countries will enable us to develop tailor-made BrT of his favorite topics is transit-oriented development. The best-
systems to suit individual local requirements. The activities are still studied example is curitiba in Brazil, where the world’s first BrT
at a very early stage, but i see the rapidly rising demand as an en- system is in operation. The city authorities realized at a very early
couraging sign.” Stefan Sahlmann, manager of BrT concepts and stage of urbanization that the entire traffic must not be routed to
Strategy, confirms the growing worldwide significance of BrT: The the center,” says richard mejía. “on the introduction of the BrT line
number of inquiries from Daimler Buses’ global sales structure has in 1972, they designated five wide streets as principal traffic arteries,
risen sharply. Several systems are currently under development in order to avoid the concentration of commercial areas and thus
in mexico, and South africa is also setting store by BrT in order reduce traffic.”
to cope with the throngs of visitors to the World cup; many South Sandro Baumann, an intern in the field of BrT at Daimler Buses
african cities have commissioned feasibility studies. Plans are also Stuttgart, is from curitiba and grew up with that city’s BrT line. “Sky-
being drawn up for madrid. Daimler’s BrT representatives are seeking scrapers have emerged along the bus route, with shops on the ground
to position Daimler Buses in the growing market of mobility concepts floor and offices above. The townscape has grown together with the
for major cities. BrT system.”
richard mejía, manager of BrT Transport Planning at headquar- But why is interest only now starting to be shown in BrT systems,
ters, is sitting at his computer preparing a speech for a conference although experience from curitiba has long since been available?
in new Delhi. The international association of Public Transport (uiTP) This is because rail transport was long regarded as the more modern
has invited scientists, officials from various transport agencies, and and more sustainable solution. Stefan Sahlmann recently organized
employees of transport companies to an exchange of ideas on BrT, a delegation from abu Dhabi to visit Selim Dallı in istanbul. There
at which richard mejía has been asked to give a presentation. This is already a metro line in the neighboring emirate of Dubai, and a
topic is the subject of much discussion in india. The indian govern- further line is under consideration. The delegation to istanbul will
ment has provided funding for pilot projects in 15 cities, and a clarify whether a metro or BrT is the preferred solution for abu Dhabi.
14-kilometer test track has already been set up in Pune. richard after all, BrT systems can be implemented much more cost-effec-
mejía and his colleagues have found that the bus lane is wider than tively (see chart above).

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BRT SYSTEMS WorlDWiDe
an InTernaTIonal comParIson oF selecTed bus-based mobIlITy soluTIons

los angeles, u.s. mexIco cITy, mexIco


3.8 million 8.7 million

13 million 19.2 million

22,000 450,000

22.5 km 50 km

14 80

The Orange Line is so fast that the transportation Home to 18 million residents and 6 million vehicles,
authority treats this BrT line as part of its rail system. with 600 new vehicles added every day. BrT provides
relief.

guadalaJara, mexIco guayaQuIl, ecuador


1.6 million 2.2 million

4.1 million 3 million

125,000 100,000

16 km 15.5 km

27 36

Introduction of the BrT reduced travel time along The architecture of the BrT stations ties into
the BrT corridor by 30 percent. the history of the city.

bogoTÁ, colombIa sÃo Paulo, braZIl


6.9 million 10.9 million

7.9 million 19.2 million

1.4 million more than 2.5 million

84 km 142 km

114 more than 235

Nearly half of the vehicles on the trunk and feeder Is currently the longest BrT system in the world,
lines of the TransMilenio BrT system are from with 142 kilometers of dedicated lanes.
Mercedes-Benz.

curITIba, braZIl
1.8 million

3.1 million

2.3 million

Not available

380

Is one of the world’s oldest BrT systems. Was introduced in


the 1970s and carries 2 million passengers each day.

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sources: allafrica.com , busway.co.nz , embarq, en.tehran.ir , gzbrt.org, itdp.org, lamata-ng.com, nctr.usf.edu, Planning Guide, voithturbo.com, vtpi.org

nanTes, France IsTanbul, TurKey


290,000 12.6 million

560,000 12.7 million

26,500 715,000

7 km 40 km

15 33

Today only 28,000 cars drive along the BrT route, The Metrobüs system was honored in 2009 with the
down from 55,000 cars in 2006. The reason: Sustainable Transport Award, which is presented
BrT reduces the travel time from 40 to 20 minutes. in recognition of projects that improve the quality of
life in large cities.

JaKarTa, IndonesIa guangZhou, chIna


8.5 million 3.1 million

24 million 10 million

300,000 350,000

124 km 22.5 km

161 26

The city could be the fifth-largest on earth by 2015. Poster child and trailblazer for additional BrT systems
BrT has been used since 2004 in an attempt to get a planned in China.
handle on the associated traffic problems.

lagos, nIgerIa Johannesburg, souTh aFrIca


15.5 million 3.8 million

17.5 million 10 million

20.000 12,000

22 km 25.5 km

26 20

The BrT system in the Nigerian capital has a better- In order to cope with increased demand at the
than-average cost-to-benefit ratio. soccer Word Cup, the city broke ground for a BrT
system in 2005.

adelaIde, ausTralIa aucKland, neW Zealand


1.2 million 420,000

Not available 1.3 million

25,000 Not available

12 km 9 km

3 5

1986

The BrT system is one of the few guided busway Each full BrT bus means 40 fewer cars
systems in the world. on the streets of Auckland.

inhabitants (city) Passengers (per day) Stops additional information on BrT


inhabitants (urban area) length of lines in operation since

Daimler-TechniciTy.com 85

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für

reDuceD emiSSionS ThrouGh BrT


reduced exhausT emIssIon values The euroPean emIssIon sTandards

CO2 (fuel consumption) The cradle of emissions legislation is California,


EUrO III NOx (nitrogen oxides) where the first emission limits were established in
PM (particulates) the 1960s. In the European Community, the first
Additional savings through standardized emissions regulations were ratified
flowing traffic without
stop-and-go
in 1970. The first European emission standard for
EUrO IV commercial vehicles was defined in Directive
88/77/EEC and implemented in 1990. The next
stages followed in 1996, 2000, 2005, and 2008
with the current Euro V standard. Further tightening
EUrO V of the standard is planned. In July 2009, the EU
published parts of the Euro VI regulations scheduled
to enter into force in 2013. The European emission
standard establishes upper limits for the pollutant
EEV emissions. These limits are different for passenger
cars and commercial vehicles, for gasoline and
diesel engines. The Euro V emissions standard is
0% 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % currently in force.

09:18 a.m., sögüTlücesme The high-capacity bus reaches the


terminus of the BrT line on the asian side of istanbul. a loop behind
the bus stop is provided for the buses to turn. Just beyond it is a
large car park enabling commuters to change from individual traffic to
public transport. minibuses take passengers on feeder routes into the
surrounding area. Facing the road are residential and office buildings,
including a large hall for wedding receptions. The soccer stadium is
also close at hand. Sögütlücesme is a colorful neighborhood – a piece
of modern istanbul; this reminds Selim Dallı of a sentence he read in a
newspaper interview with a passenger who has been commuting daily
on the BrT line ever since the introduction of metrobüs: “i too am now
a first-class citizen.” •

HYPERLINK

Further information on this article is available at:

daimler-technicity.com/mobilityconcepts
including the following features:
1. istanbul city profile: inhabitants, history, transportation data
2. Photo gallery: lively traffic in istanbul
3. info: What is behind the european emission standards?

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für

harTmuT SchicK
“The development of even more efficient and environ-
mentally friendly vehicle technologies will play a key
role in shaping the BrT sector.”

TechniciTy: Mr. Schick, when and where did you What are the biggest systemic hurdles you face?
last ride the bus? First, we have to carefully consider the objectives
harTmuT SchicK: i got my bus driver’s license and requirements associated with the implementation of
right after it was decided that i should head Daimler BrT systems. every BrT system is unique. it is important
Buses. The first thing i did was to go for a test drive that the needs of the users — in other words, the passen-
with my family in a Setra Topclass. on the weekends gers, the local operators, and the cities — flow into the
i go into downtown Stuttgart and often take the bus or planning and implementation process at an early stage.
the subway.
And the technical challenges involved …
Will we all be riding the bus more often in the There’s an entirely different set of arguments on the
future? technical side. The prioritized use of buses enables BrT
yes, without a doubt. i am convinced that the im- systems to reduce fuel consumption and thus co2 emis-
portance of public transport — and in particular the sions by as much as 20 percent. That won’t be enough
relevance of bus systems — will increase. We are seeing to take you very far in the bus and BrT business in the
an increased demand for bus-based mobility concepts, future, however. The development of even more efficient
particularly from fast-growing major cities in which the and environment-friendly vehicle technologies will play
existing infrastructure systems are bumping up against a key role here. We observed this in north america
their limits. i have become a member of the executive with our orion hybrid buses, which are deployed
committee of the international association of Public in large numbers in new york, among other places.
Transport (uiTP). according to our estimates, public This is also the reason why we are pushing strongly
transport will probably double by 2025. ahead with the further development of the mercedes-
Benz G BlueTec hybrid and the mercedes-Benz citaro
What are you doing to prepare for this massive Fuelcell-hybrid. •
increase?
Daimler Buses is contributing, for instance, by offer-
ing the services of a team of BrT experts. These experts CURRICULUM VITAE
provide assistance to municipalities worldwide that are
striving to introduce and enhance customized urban bus harTmuT schIcK
concepts. The service is currently also being provided Born in 1961 in oberiflingen, Germany
to the cities that will be hosting the 2010 World cup
soccer games in South africa. and despite our core mechanical engineer
business, the experts focus not only on buses, but seek head of Daimler Buses at Daimler,
to create a networked and smoothly functioning trans- General manager of evoBus Gmbh
portation system in which existing and new modes of
transport augment one another. What this boils down
to in the end is efficiently combining sustainability,
mobility, safety, and comfort. That is our aspiration. and
here we have a lot to offer when it comes to BrT. We
are also currently discussing how we can provide BrT
solutions more efficiently, quickly and conveniently. our
ideas extend all the way to being a “sustainable trans-
port service provider” that offers far more than a classic
bus manufacturer.

Daimler-TechniciTy.com 87

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MACROSCOPE

the multi-Billion Crash


Virtual crash tests have a long tradition at Daimler.
As long as 20 years ago, the company began
augmenting its tests of real-life vehicles by slamming
simulation data “against the wall.” Using an array of
26,000 measuring points, the computer simulation
examined the behavior of the car body and the drive
system during collisions. The results obtained were
very valuable, even though the simulations still had a
long way to go before they could realistically depict
real-life accident scenarios. Today, virtual crashes
are almost as reliable as real ones, because the
simulated vehicle is divided into about two million
different elements. As a result, a single virtual test
requires up to 320 billion calculations. The develop-
ers of the new C-Class put the vehicle through its
paces in virtual crash tests more than 5,500 times.
The digital prototype that was used in these tests had
a “gross vehicle weight” of 2,130 gigabytes.

Data net The interior of the Mercedes-Benz


SLS was developed on basis of a digital net of billions
of bytes – long time before it has been constructed.

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text
Stephan Wengenroth

viRTuAl
World
realistic images produced by computers are inspiring architects and artists,
helping doctors make diagnoses, and reducing the time that engineers spend
on test tracks. The digital world has already created multiple realities.

Digital Dinosaurs Fear. That’s basically what millions of movie cluding the flight of a jumbo jet between the collapsing skyscrapers
theater visitors felt when they saw their first dinosaur “live.” The year of Los Angeles.
was 1993 and dinosaurs had just stepped out of the jungle to become Computer-generated images allow us to see and analyze things
stars in the film studio. For many viewers, the producers of Jurassic such as breezes and temperature differences that would be invisible
Park had created such a realistic depiction of the fossilized animals in real life. At Daimler, this potential is used to develop vehicles. Among
that fact and fiction seemed to merge. Thanks to its computer-gener- other things, the engineers and technicians at Daimler created a vir-
ated imagery (CGi), which was still revolutionary at the time, this mile- tual model of the new C-Class’ interior that encompasses almost eight
stone in film history was awarded an oscar. million different volume elements. A simulation software program was
The six minutes of film that showed the dinosaurs in all their glo- subsequently used to compute so-called comfort parameters, such as
ry accounted for almost one-third of the movie’s production costs of airflow and temperature fluctuations, for each of these points.
$63 million. The animation programs gobbled up five megabytes of on the basis of everything from the size, shape, and location of
“dinosaur data” for each of the 24 images required per second of the air nozzles to the possible settings of the car air-conditioning sys-
film. ever since Jurassic Park, virtual reality has become an increas- tem, the experts were able to “measure” the airflow and climate
ingly popular tool in the movie industry. When the doomsday epic throughout the vehicle interior. The experts also took into account pa-
2012 showed the destruction of our entire civilization, the main roles rameters that affect the vehicle from outside. These included the air-
were no longer played by the actors in front of the camera. in fact, stream, ambient temperature, solar radiation, and humidity. The com-
not a single scene in the film would have been possible without the puting results were then made visible in a virtual 3D model of the ve-
work performed by the movie’s main star, the computer. Around hicle, which was projected onto a six-meter-wide and 2.5-meter-high
1,000 visualization experts worked on the computer-generated spe- surface known as the “Powerwall” at the Development Center in
cial effects, using a cluster of up to 250 computers to create about Sindelfingen, Germany. The depiction showed the results as airflows
one petabyte (one million gigabytes) of film data. As a result, movie- that were colored according to their temperature levels. The striking
goers can enjoy a photorealistic depiction of the unimaginable, in- thing here was that all of this was done during the development pro-

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MAnFreD DAnGeLMAier:
“From the design stage to sales, computer-generated
images and realistic simulations are now essential in all
areas of industry.”

Is there a particular sector that is leading experience can only be created by using stereoscopic,
the way with CGI, and should other sectors follow and therefore spatial, depictions on a huge projection
its lead? surface. Systems such as the Powerwall and the Cave,
The use of advanced visualization technologies which give the impression of actual virtual reality, play
increases in line with the level of a product’s quality a pioneering role in this regard. however, they are
and the amount of development work it requires. one correspondingly expensive as well, which is why only
of the leaders in this area is certainly the automotive major companies have them.
industry. And regardless of which sector they work in,
engineers who already design their products using So the increased use of visualization technolo-
3D CAD systems are also increasingly turning to CGi. gies requires more effort and consequently gener-
The essential precondition here is that the three- ates additional costs.
dimensional design data they use must already be in the same way that the design of three-dimen-
present within the system. if that is the case, three- sional CAD objects is increasingly becoming a part of
dimensional objects can be visualized or animated everyday life, 3D visualization and virtual reality will
without too much effort. gradually spread. in fact, they will eventually be used
for everything from concept presentations and the
Where do you think CGI has the biggest development of designs to providing customers with
potential? advice at the point of sale. it’s important to remember
As a means of communication. That’s the case, that we can use the data generated for the virtual
for example, when you have to present a new product product again and again for various purposes. •
idea to decision-makers or when you want to compare
various design concepts. Besides the automotive indus-
try, the construction sector is another good example CuRRiCuluM viTAE
of the use of CGi, as is shown by recent developments.
Because digital models are increasingly augmenting
Dr. manfred Dangelmaier
or even replacing real-life architectural models, it is
Born in heidenheim, Germany,
now possible to integrate the planned buildings into
on May 31, 1960
virtual cityscapes or to take the builder on an initial
virtual tour.

Does the increased reliance on computer visual-


ization techniques also lead to problems? +++ institute director at the Fraunhofer institute for industrial
That’s certainly the case. Generating the data engineering (iAo), Stuttgart, since 2009 +++ Studied mechanical
can be difficult, for one thing. it’s also important to engineering at the University of Stuttgart +++ employed at the iAo
consider which display systems should be used for since 1986 +++ earned a Ph.D. in 2001 under the direction of
presentations. in many cases, 3D objects are presented Prof. Bullinger. Topic of the dissertation: The ergonomics of Driver
as flat images on normal computer screens or projec- Areas in Cars +++ Appointed head of the iAo Competence Center
tion surfaces in conference rooms. A truly immersive Virtual environments in 2001 +++

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MACROSCOPE

life-saving Cgi
Computers are increasingly providing life-saving
results in the form of on-screen visualizations.
Using cross-sectional images provided by CAT scan-
ners or magnetic resonance tomographs, computers
generate virtual 3D models that allow doctors to ex-
actly plan operations or better coordinate treatment.
Brain surgery is a particularly difficult opera-
tion — for example, when a tumor (shown in green
in this image) has to be removed without damaging
an artery (red). The image comes from the MAGi
(microscope-assisted guided interventions) system,
which was developed by the University of London.
When conducting operations, surgeons generally only
see the image provided by a microscope. in MAGi,
however, a computer-generated view of the surround-
ing tissue is superimposed on the image.

insight A digital image of the human skull


enables doctors to diagnose tumors without impairing
the patient’s health.

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MiCROSCOPE

Digital arChiteCture
The Dutch architectural office UnStudio (van Brekel
and Bos) required terabytes of CGi data in order to
create the designs for the Mercedes-Benz Museum
in Stuttgart.

COnTExT

form follows material


The form comes first, followed by the material —
that’s the normal procedure in the architectural
design process. however, Achim Menges, a professor
at the institute for Computational Design at the
University of Stuttgart, claims that this approach
is wrong. Menges instead pursues a so-called
morphogenetic approach, which does not distinguish
between the form and the materialization process
and which includes the environment. The result is
“breathing” buildings that are based on nature.
Menges’ simulations use evolutionary principles
to create practically infinite forms and also check
them for their environmental compatibility. Most of
the computer’s creations are beyond our imagination,
as shown, for example, by Morphogenetic Design
experiment 01.

fantastiC Using complex calculations,


it is possible to create the basic models of architec-
tural designs.

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cess long before the vehicle existed as a prototype. Although the en-
gineers were not yet able to sit down in the car and feel the degree
of comfort it provided, the virtual model made it possible for them to
experience and optimize the various components of the air-condition-
ing system and its controls. What’s more, they were able to do so in
a wide variety of driving situations and in great detail.
Since the “computer eye” can detect far more than a human could
ever manage, it is also used, for example, to search for new materi-
als. Beneficiaries include the materials specialists at the Fraunhofer
institute for industrial Mathematics (iTWM) in Kaiserslautern. To study
a material’s microstructure, the researchers use simulations to zoom
down to the level of nanoparticles, which are just a few millionths of
a millimeter in diameter. The scientists’ aim is to create new, highly
effective insulating materials or to structure the ceramic surfaces of
catalytic converters in such a way that they can reliably capture even
the smallest particulates. however, the special computer-based visu-
alization methods can do more than just make the microstructures of
the catalytic converter visible.

“Thanks to simulations, conflicts that


could disrupt the production process can
be detected as early as the design stage.”
Frank PFluGer, Team Leader for Process Simulation at Daimler

ClaY moDel in the ComPuter The methods can also be used


to visualize key physical processes such as the passage of heat through
the fiber meshwork of an insulating material. in this way, the scien-
tists can precisely calculate the effects of apparently tiny changes be-
fore starting to develop the new material’s production process.
The start of a product creation process is marked by more than
just conceptual considerations. At this stage, decisions also have to
be made regarding two aspects that will substantially influence own-
ers’ or users’ attitudes toward the product at the very beginning and
after their initial impressions have faded: shape and appearance. For
this purpose, the teams of creative experts at premium automakers
such as Daimler generally use 1:4 scale clay models as a starting
point. The advantage of this approach is that the future design can be
viewed in detail from all sides and angles and even touched. As a re-
sult, it’s also possible to feel swung surfaces, edges, and transitions
between individual parts of the vehicle body. The disadvantage is that
it’s only possible to guess what the finished vehicle will look like with
different paintjobs and under varying lighting conditions in a natural
environment.
That is why the Daimler development teams also exploit the op-
portunities offered by computer-generated imagery in this area. here,
they use a 3D scanner that scans every millimeter of the clay model
to create a grid consisting of millions of points. The digital copy that
is created in the computer matches the original down to the last de-
tail. in analogy to the bag of tricks that the movie industry uses to cal-
culate computer-generated scenes, the developers create a digital
prototype of the vehicle. This digital model can be inserted into real-
istic scenarios and examined on the Powerwall as a photorealistic im-
age in true-to-life settings.
The design model in the computer is superior to its clay counter-
part in a number of ways. Changes can be made directly to the vehi-

93

Technicity_88-95_CGI_E.indd 7 30.03.10 11:26


cle’s skin or interior in the computer model, and the resulting variants technology. not only can such problems be detected early on; using
can be saved and deleted again at any time. The data for the virtual the virtual model they can also be clearly demonstrated to colleagues
model can also be used to test the design at a very early stage of de- from other disciplines.
velopment, making it possible to determine whether conflicts might Thanks to the digital prototypes, it is possible to create an auto-
later arise — for example, regarding the vehicle’s interior. And because mobile that is equipped with all of the components and functions be-
the design model is passed on to the technology specialists at an ear- fore a real-life prototype is actually built. in addition, the interplay be-
ly stage, the latter can check to see if the wheel housings are large tween the functions can also be tested at this early stage. To evalu-
enough to accommodate the chassis, for example, or if the interior ar- ate the driving performance of the new C-Class before construction
rangement is compatible with the airbag requirements. began, the car’s digital prototype was “driven” about 1,500 kilome-
At the conclusion of each digital optimization stage, the computer ters on virtual highways, country roads, and the streets of virtual cit-
data is used to cut a new clay model. in this way it is possible to lit- ies. in this way, it was possible to extensively test important param-
erally grasp the impact of the latest design version. in general, the eters such as crash safety, occupant protection, aerodynamics, body
computer-animated visualization technique impressively demonstrates engineering strength, driving comfort, handling, engine characteris-
its strengths in situations where the process of measuring the real-life tics, noise, and vibration before the actual vehicle was built.
object would involve a great deal of effort.

“With the digital prototypes, we create the charateristic Mercedes-Benz driving behavior
during the simulations. The fine-tuning is done in real-life tests.”
luDGer DraGon, head of Driving Performance, Simulation, and Analysis at Daimler

And that’s not only true for prototypes construction. Vehicle bodies, Despite all of the successes, Daimler will continue to construct real-
for example, have to go through a dipping tank in order to coat the life prototypes. After all, people’s perceptions and emotions are best
body with paint. For this process, it is important that the body be stimulated by actual objects. experts, test drivers, and customers will
turned and twisted in such a way that not only the interior and exte- therefore continue to fine-tune and evaluate vehicles outside of the
rior areas but also all of the cavities are coated with a uniform layer development labs as part of a holistic experience. •
of paint.
To determine all the individual steps of this process for the sub-
sequent series-production stage, the production engineers at Daimler HYPERlinK
first use the virtual model to precisely time the movements in the dip-
ping tank. During the virtual dipping and drying process, the simula- additional information relatingd to this article can be found
tion software “measures” key parameters such as paint adhesion, flow online at:
movements, and the degree of hardening.
These values can subsequently be used to compute images in
which different colors illustrate various coat depths, even in cavity
areas that would not be accessible in real-life vehicle bodies. To en- daimler-technicity.com/managementandprocesses
sure that these values correspond with those of the actual produc- including the following features:
tion process, the engineers have programmed empirical results into 1. A brief history of digital simulation
the visualization software. To achieve this feat, the engineers made 2. Driving simulators — how fender benders are avoided on the computer
many measurements of real-life vehicle bodies during the dip-paint- 3. Virtual plane crashes: Mega-calculations for greater flight safety
ing process. The results were subsequently used to calibrate those
of the computer system. As a consequence, the computed values
have now achieved a degree of reliability that is within the normal
range of error for the measurement systems used to check real-life
painting processes. The key task of CGi technologies is to support
the designers who are working to develop new ideas and products by
providing them with images that are as detailed as possible. Just as
vehicle air-conditioning systems or painting processes can be visual-
ized on computer screens, it’s also now possible to check all of the
other vehicle functions on virtual models using simulation and com-
puting programs.
To ensure that such programs run as smoothly as possible, the
development engineers at Daimler have combined the individual dig-
ital design and testing systems into a single platform, which they call
the “digital prototype”. By networking the development work, it is pos-
sible, for example, to detect difficulties regarding the interplay of dif-
ferent technical components or conflicts between the design and the

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MiCROSCOPE

a CalCulateD view
Artists are using computers to create not only
completely new shapes and realities but also familiar
ones such as faces. however, that’s an area where
human perceptions are especially sharp. even tiny
inconsistencies in facial expressions can reveal a
“person” to be a digital fabrication. The graphic
designers’ tools are now so sophisticated that every
pore in a person’s skin looks real, as in this image of
a girl by the South Korean artist Viki yeo.

lifelike This girl’s facial features look


almost real, even though they were all created
digitally on a computer.

95

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DIGITAL
TECHNICITY oN THE INTErNET UsINg mEdIa-spECIfIC advaNTagEs

InnovatIon news onlIne PRePaRatIon oF onlIne Content

More Media power The thorough linking of the print


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even clearer overview of new knowledge and boosts
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DAIMLER-TECHNICITY.COM include videos, animations,
and surveys dealing with a broad spectrum of issues
related to people and mobility, while the print magazine
features large-format photos, its special feel in the
reader’s hand, durability, and value.

TopicaliTy Those who have missed an issue can order


it online at any time — or read it right on their PC moni-
tors. The TECHNICITY online magazine offers the same
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even more up to date. Selected reports appear online
even before the printed issue, ensuring even greater
topicality. The magazine’s focal points are supplemented
and explored in even more detail by online specials and
background reports.

MulTifaceTed How will we be living in the future?


What will our work be like? Can we use innovations to
overcome environmental problems? On the internet at
DAIMLER-TECHNICITY.COM all aspects of these and
many other issues are addressed — in up-to-date reports
and news from the entire spectrum of innovations from
Daimler.

ouTsTanding journalisM Leading journalists


regularly report on technological and social trends. The
articles include fascinating photography, exciting videos,
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usabiliTy DAIMLER-TECHNICITY.COM provides clear,


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and articles can be found at a glance and are provided
in German and English versions.

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ImprInT & ConTACT
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larly conducted online polls give you
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PROJECTOR 

Think Tank
INVENTING THINGS IS FUN Or, as Carl Benz once said in his 80th year, “The passion for invention never ends.” That’s why at the heart of every
invention is a playful impulse which in many cases has sprung from a visionary idea. People’s ability to project their ideas into the future is yet
another creative talent. Those who can do so will use their visions to shape the world of tomorrow.

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PoST-oIl cITy
i

Abbildung: © LAVA/atelier illume | Gestaltung: Philippa Walz, Andreas Opiolka, Stuttgart


dIe STadT
nach dem Öl
Die Geschichte Der Zukunft Der staDt
the history of the city of the future
Schauplatz Natur / ON Stage: Nature
ifa-Galerie Berlin | Linienstraße 139/140 | 10115 Berlin 23. 4. – 18. 7. 2010
Fon +49/(0)30/28 44 91 40 | Eintritt frei / free admission | www.ifa.de
mit freundlicher Unterstützung von / with the friendly assistance of
in Kooperation mit / in cooperation with

TECHNICITY
Aside from the novelty, inventiveness, and commercial
applicability associated with an innovation, its technological
strengths determine whether it will be patented.

Anzeige POC_2.indd 1 18.03.2010 10:03:07 Uhr

100310_T_Cover_E_RZ.indd 2 18.03.10 14:05


TECHNICITY
MAGAZINE
FOR
INNOVATION
TECHNOLOGY
MOBILITY

ISSUE 01 2010
MAGAZINE FOR INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY MOBILITY
E- CITY BERLIN
TECHNICITY
A network in the German capital
is shaping the future of electric mobility

TECHNICITY THE DIGITAL WORLD MOBILITY CONCEPTS ISSUE


MAGAZINE Why digital development processes are fundamentally How major cities all over the world are reacting rapidly 01 2010
FOR changing the way we live and work. and efficiently to mobility bottlenecks.
INNOVATION
ISSN 2190-0523

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How networked creative processes are generating Why intelligent research vehicles are already having a 6.00 GBP
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