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Daimler 360 GRAD - FAKTEN zur Nachhaltigkeit 2008
Daimler Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2008 / Environmental protection, innovation, and safety / Products and product use /
Fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions
Daimler CAFE* values for passenger cars and light trucks 1996 – 2007 in the U.S.
In the U.S., the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards set the legal framework for improving energy
efficiency. According to these standards, manufacturers’ passenger car fleets are weighted in line with sales. For
model year 2008, they must have average values below 8.6 liters per 100 kilometers (27.5 miles per gallon) for
cars, and 10.6 liters per 100 kilometers (22.2 miles per gallon) for light trucks. Standards for both passenger
cars and light trucks have been tightened in the U.S. in recent years. As a result, the requirements will gradually
be increased in the period between 2011 and 2020 to an average of 6.7 liters per 100 kilometers (35 miles per
gallon).
Average fuel economy for each model year is determined by the number of vehicles sold and the fuel economy
value for each. Manufacturers that fail to achieve the set economy value must pay US $5.50 per every 0.1 miles
per gallon they fall below the standard. Last year, the Group thus had to pay penalties totaling US $30.3 million
for slightly more than 200,000 Mercedes vehicles imported into the U.S. by Mercedes-Benz in 2006, due to the
fall in the number of FlexFuel vehicles in connection with model realignment measures.
In Japan the “Top Runner” concept has fixed binding upper limits for fuel consumption from 2010 on for nine
passenger car classes grouped according to gross vehicle weight. This standard will be extended to 16 car
classes in 2015. The targets for 2010 have already been achieved in two vehicle classes.
With long-distance trucks like the Mercedes-Benz Actros, Daimler has been leading the field for years in terms of
fuel economy. Refined and even more efficient engines, improvements to tires and aerodynamic properties,
variable axle drive ratios, and the introduction of BLUETEC technology have all led to substantial reductions in
the fuel consumption of our commercial vehicles over the last few years. Orion VII hybrid buses, for example,
consume up to 45 percent less fuel than conventional diesel buses, while the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid
consumes 20 percent less fuel than a conventional truck.
Impact of driving style on fuel consumption. Studies have shown that when a driver tries to anticipate events and
drives with economy in mind, he or she can achieve fuel savings of as much as 10 percent over the long term.
Exploiting such savings potential is the goal of the eco-training courses offered by Mercedes-Benz to drivers of
both passenger cars and commercial vehicles.