Mercedes-Benz Enters National Low-Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Program
12 February 1998
Mercedes-Benz Enters National Low-Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Program; All Mercedes Models Already Meet Stricter California Standards
MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 12 -- Mercedes-Benz of North America,
Inc. today announced that it is entering the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) optional National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Program, which is being
created to help assure that cars sold in all states except those that have
adopted California's regulations (New York and Massachusetts) will produce
fewer emissions than existing "47 state" cars.
Mercedes vehicles are among the few which already meet the NLEV
parameters. That is because every vehicle Mercedes sells in the United
States, including the award-winning M-Class sport-utility vehicle (ML320), is
already equipped with the technology to meet California emission regulations,
the most stringent in the world. In fact, since model year 1981,
Mercedes-Benz has equipped all of its gasoline-fueled vehicles sold nationwide
with the same emissions technology as those certified in California. From a
technical standpoint, all gasoline-fueled Mercedes vehicles sold in the U.S.
since model year 1981 have been able to meet the highest emissions standards
in the world.
Under current regulations, which can vary from state to state, it is
theoretically possible for states with more stringent California regulations
to get pollution from adjacent states with less stringent regulations. By
adopting the new Federal NLEV standard, automakers have committed to producing
cleaner-running cars for the whole country, eliminating a probable patchwork
of California regulations.
Perhaps more important, from the perspective of the public well-being, is
that by committing to the NLEV program, automakers will be producing
cleaner-running cars five years ahead of previous Clean Air Act mandates.
Again, Mercedes-Benz technology has enabled the carmaker to offer
clean-running vehicles for many years ahead of such mandates in all parts of
the country, not just California.
Despite Exemption, Mercedes ML320 Complies With NLEV
Not only do all Mercedes-Benz cars sold nationwide (including the E300
Turbodiesel) already comply with California's strict emission regulations (and
thus, the NLEV requirements), but so does the new, award-winning ML320
sport-utility vehicle. Officially, the ML320 would be exempt from the NLEV
requirement, because it is classified as a heavy light-duty truck (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating of over 6,000 pounds -- ML320 weight of 4,343 pounds
plus full carrying capacity of 1,662 pounds). Mercedes has voluntarily
elected to enter the ML320 into the NLEV program because, in a feat many
passenger cars have yet to attain, the superclean ML320 is already performing
at "Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle" (S-ULEV) levels, which is much stricter
than the new NLEV standard.
New Twin-Plug Engine Technology Means Leaner, Cleaner Engines
Enabling the ML320 to achieve such low-emission performance is a
new-generation V6 engine, which is also used in the E320 and C280 sedan
models, and the all-new CLK320 coupe. In general, the new-generation
Mercedes-Benz powerplants get up to 40 percent lower exhaust emissions,
13 percent better fuel-efficiency, are 25 percent lighter in weight, and have
a broader torque range than previous Mercedes engines. The new engines
feature two spark plugs per cylinder, and the dual ignition system activates
the twin spark plugs one after the other in quick succession rather than
simultaneously, with electronically varied "stagger," for cleaner-burning
combustion and smoother, stronger performance.
Three-Valve Technology Reduces Emissions by 40 Percent
The new Mercedes-Benz engines use innovative three-valve-per-cylinder
technology to reduce exhaust emissions dramatically -- over 40 percent during
the critical warm-up stage when much of engine emissions are produced.
There's less surface area at the exhaust port, relative to a comparable
four-valve engine, which dramatically reduces exhaust heat loss between the
engine and the catalytic converter. This translates to higher exhaust
temperature and earlier converter "light-off." In general, there is no
tradeoff in horsepower and torque with the new three-valve technology compared
to a four-valve design. In any efficient, well-designed engine, exhaust valve
size needs to be somewhat smaller than the intake valve area.
Mercedes-Benz remains committed to producing vehicles that offer the
utmost in occupant safety and environmental compatibility. The company's
ability to so easily comply with new emission regulations is evidence of this
commitment.
SOURCE Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.
