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Hi I am Angus MacKenzie, editor and chief of Motor Trend. And I am here on the Mercedes Benz stand at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. You know, I think when we look back at this show in 5 to 10 years time, it will be seen as the pivotal moment in the history of the automobile. For the first time the electrification of the automotive power train has come away from being a science project and is entering the automotive main stream.
Behind me is the Mercedes Benz Blue-zero concept and this is a classic example of a new way of thinking that's coming into the auto industry. In simple terms the Blue-zero concept allows Mercedes Benz to build 3 different kinds of electric vehicle. A full electric car which has to be recharged, a fuel cell vehicle which uses the fuel cell to charge the batteries and finally an electric vehicle with a range extending internal combustion engine. Very similar in concept to Chevy's Volt.
A key enabling technology of the Blue-zero concept is the vehicle's unique double sandwich floor construction. This technique was pioneered by Mercedes Benz, ten years a go in the A-class compact it introduced in Europe. And what it means in the Blue-zero is the company is able to package a lot of the components under the floor keeping the weight low and also maximizing the interior space. In the electric version, the electric motors are well upfront and the battery under the floor.
In the fuel cell version, the fuel cell sits here under the floor. And in the version with the internal combustion engine, what Mercedes Benz has done is put a 3-cylinder smart engine between the rear axils. It's a very clever modular approach that allows Mercedes Benz to build three different types of electric vehicles with different range and different performance capabilities to suit different consumer needs.
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