Vans for the Environment - PART III

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Jul 14, 2008

ECO Start: Engine off at every stop

• Premiere: the first van with a start-stop system
• ECO Start saves fuel at every stop of more than three seconds
• ECO Start reduces fuel consumption and noise emissions
• Electronics ensure safety and comfort
• Available with four-cylinder diesel engines and manual transmission

An engine that is not running consumes no fuel. This simple fact helps the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to save fuel while sparing the environment and the wallet. ECO Start means that whenever the vehicle is idling at a standstill, the engine is automatically switched off. The potential savings are considerable: on average the Sprinter ECO Start uses five to eight percent less fuel. In individual cases, and depending on the type of operation and traffic density, drivers have even been able to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20 percent. At the same time noise emissions are reduced because the engine is switched off.

Premiere: the first van with a start-stop system

The easiest way to save fuel is not to start the engine, or at least to switch it off when it is not needed - during a stop. The Sprinter with ECO Start is a Mercedes-Benz premiere: the first start-stop system in a van. ECO Start particularly realises its savings potential when driving in town, and especially when there are frequent waiting times in tailbacks or traffic light stops. ECO-Start already switches the engine off after a three-second stop with the transmission in neutral. It is instantly restarted by operating the clutch pedal or releasing the brake and rolling forward. There is no delay whatever in moving off at a traffic light. The ventilation fan and headlamps remain in operation even with the engine switched off.

Environmentally friendly, safe and comfortable

Safety is ensured by sophisticated electronics: once the vehicle begins to move, the engine is immediately started to maintain servo assistance for the brakes and steering. If a gear is engaged, the engine will only start if the clutch is depressed fully. The safety logic also checks whether the bonnet is closed, i.e. that nobody can be injured by a sudden engine start. The system can also be deactivated by a switch in the instrument panel.

To avoid cold-starting and engine overheating, the system operates only at coolant temperatures between 40 and 100 degrees Celsius. The ECO Start function is also deactivated if the battery voltage is low. Neither is the comfort of the occupants neglected: to maintain full heater performance, the engine continues to run during stops if the ambient temperature is below zero.

ECO Start is available worldwide for all Sprinter models with a four-cylinder diesel engine and a manual transmission. The additional price in Germany is 203 Euro (excl. VAT). This cost is soon recovered when driving in city traffic.

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