STUTTGART: Daimler AG member of the board and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars development Thomas Weber talks about the future and promises full-electrification of all their model range.
Weber, in charge of group research at Daimler AG and the development of Mercedes-Benz Cars for more than 12 years, has been spending a lot of the German carmaker's money on alternative drive systems and looks to spend even more over the next few years.
How much money? Around 25.3 billion euros will be spent over the next two years, which will be pumped into "green" technologies as well as research and development for alternative drive systems.
Of course, public uptake of such new products depends largely on infrastructure to help woo more people with the brand's environmentally friendly forms of mobility - which is why the industry is bearing 50% of such expenses, according to Weber.
He also added that over the next few months, the company will be "fitting" a few new products and features into their model range, which should be in reference to the fourth-generation two and four-seater smart vehicles that will come with an electric drive system.
For next year, the company will not only unveil its next-generation line-up of petrol engines that will feature a 48-volt on-board electrical system, but also the world's first series-production fuel-cell car (based on the GLC) that features a new fuel-cell technology that uses 90%-less platinum to raise its affordability.
Also, for next year, the S-Class hybrid's electric range will be extended from 30 to 50km as part of its facelift programme.
Although Weber assured that there will be improvements to the lithium-ion battery till 2020, by 2025 the company will be utilising a new battery that's already in development to considerable increase range-performance of up to 500km.
And to show off that point, the company will showcase a large electric vehicle that will make an appearance at the upcoming Paris Motor Show in October.
