TechBloggin.com

Filed under: Transportation

There’s a decent chance your average hybrid owner wouldn’t know the difference between a lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride battery if their life depended on it, but we know you — dear reader — are not one of those “average” joes / janes. That being the case, you may be interested to know that the 2009-bound S400 BlueHybrid is in prime position to be the world’s first production Li-ion hybrid, which will offer up “compact dimensions and far superior performance” compared to existing rivals. M-B goes on to trumpet the technology’s “high ampere-hour efficiency, long service life, and great reliability, even at very low temperatures.” No word on just how astronomically high this thing will be priced at, but you can expect just shy of 30 miles-per-gallon in mixed driving conditions, for what it’s worth.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: Darren Murph

written by

Filed under: Transportation

We’ve heard the marketing babble, and pondered the possibilities of a hands-free drive to work, but do those radar-based collision prevention technologies actually work? The British Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre Thatcham seems to think so. BMIRPCT took a long hard look at Volvo City Safety, Mercedes Distronic Plus and Honda CMBS, and decided the technologies will have a major impact on slow speed accidents — which account for 75% of accidents as it is — and should prevent more than 125,000 injuries a year in Britain alone, according to this research.

[Via gizmag]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: Paul Miller

written by

Filed under: Transportation

Mercedes-Benz has already developed a system to help folks that have trouble braking, and it now looks like it’s doing the same for those that have a tendency to fall asleep at the wheel. That will apparently come in the form of the automaker’s “Attention Assist” system, which is apparently in the final stages of development and expected to go into production in 2009, according to Gizmag. Among other things, the system can record the angle of the steering wheel, as well as speed, acceleration, and the use of indicators and pedals, not to mention external factors like a side wind or an uneven road surface. If it detects suspicious behavior, it sets off a warning light and some presumably hard to ignore sounds to tell the driver to pull over. As Gizmag points out, however, this is far from the first system that tries to keep drowsy drivers alert, although it does seem to be a good deal more advanced than a few of the solutions we’ve seen.

[Via Straightline]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: Donald Melanson

written by

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

Some German drivers can already send data straight from Google Maps to their BMW’s GPS unit, but it looks like certain Mercedes owners can now get in on the act as well, and be able to do the same with Yahoo Local Maps to boot. That oft-desired feature is the centerpiece of Mercedes-Benz’s new Search & Send service, which’ll work with ‘07 S-Class, CL-Class, and ‘08 C-Class vehicles equipped with the Multimedia Package and Navigation System. Apparently, you’ll also be able to give friends and family access to the system as well, which will let them send directions straight to you while you’re on the road. While the service itself is available at no added charge, you’ll first need a subscription to Mercedes’ Tele Aid System, a complimentary first year one of which is available to those opting for the Security and Care package with their vehicle.

[Via Navigadget]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: Donald Melanson

written by