What happens when Hollywood stars Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson are trying to survive in the desert only by the water produced by their F-CELL car?

Driving the fuel cell technology on a daily basis in Hollywood, the film stars Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson have become enthusiastic about the potential that the fuel cell technology offers. The film explains the advantages of the F-CELL technology on a trip in California’s Death Valley, one of the hottest and driest places on earth.

B-Class F-CELL: CO2 emission (combined): 0g/km; Fuel consumption 0.97 kg H2/100 km; Efficiency class: A+.

Daimler unveiled their F-CELL Roadster back in 2009, it was the latest in their line of “F-Series” concept vehicles (past Mercedes research models can be seen here), and as you’ll see, it drew its inspiration from a diverse variety of automotive eras.  From a functional standpoint, it’s a roadster fitted with a 1.2 kW hybrid drive – one that allowed the F-CELL to reach a top speed of 15 mph and achieve an operating range of  217 miles.  From a design standpoint, however, is where the F-CELL Roadster truly shined, as it managed to blend the overall aura of the original Benz patent motor car with the seating and fiberglass front section both drawn from elements of Formula One racing.

As for who was responsible for creating the unique F-CELL Roadster, that honor went to the trainees of of Daimler AG at the Sindelfingen plant, with more than 150 trainees and dual education system students having worked for about a year on the overall concept, development, assembly, and completion of the hybrid model.  According to Human Resources Board member and Labor Relations Manager Günther Fleig in 2009:  “This project impressively demonstrates that the topic of sustainable mobility has become an integral part of our vocational training.  I am delighted to see how much initiative and creativity the young people have put into this project.”

In Stuttgart, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL helps to guide aircraft around the runways. With an output of 136 hp and a top speed of 105 mph, it is locally emission-free and thus a true leader in its field, and not only of the planes on the airport. At the hydrogen filling station that was opened on the airport campus in 2009, the “follow me” vehicle can be refuelled with hydrogen in less than three minutes, giving it a range of around 400 kilometres. “So, as you can see, we are keeping up with the latest technological developments in ground-based drive systems”, commented Walter Schoefer, Managing Director of the company operating the airport, Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH.

The everyday viability and technical maturity of fuel cell-powered electric vehicles was put to the test by Mercedes-Benz only recently in its F-CELL World Drive. Between late January and early June, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F‑CELL vehicles drove around the world – covering a distance of more than 30,000 kilometres across four continents and through 14 countries. With this circumnavigation of the globe, Daimler was also able to draw attention to the need for a broad-based hydrogen infrastructure. As a catalyst for this process, the company will therefore be working with Linde AG to establish an initial 20 hydrogen refuelling stations.

The B-Class F-CELL: the latest generation of fuel cell-powered electric vehicles

At the heart of the B-Class F‑CELL is the new generation of a fuel cell-powered electric drive system, which is compact, powerful, safe and absolutely practical for everyday use. The fuel cell generates the electricity needed for driving through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen – within the vehicle itself. With a range of around 400 kilometres and fast refuelling times, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL combines locally emission-free mobility with complete viability over long distances and impressive performance. In the process it produces no pollutant emissions whatsoever, just pure water. The 100 kW/136 hp electric motor in the current B‑Class F-CELL gives it effortless torque of 290 Nm right from the very first turn of the key, ensuring fun at the wheel and driving dynamics on a par with those of a 2.0-litre petrol engine. And with all this, the B-Class F-CELL achieves the equivalent of an NEDC consumption figure (New European Drive Cycle) of 3.3 litres of fuel (diesel equivalent) per 100 kilometres.

When the brakes are applied, or even as soon as the driver takes his or her foot off the accelerator, the electric motor uses a recuperation process to convert kinetic energy into electric energy, which is then stored in the battery. During manoeuvring or over short distances the electric drive motor takes its power from the battery. Should the capacity of the energy accumulator prove insufficient, the fuel cell is automatically activated. The decision as to whether the electricity is taken from the lithium-ion battery, the fuel cell or from a combination of both is determined by the intelligent drive management system according to what is most efficient and most beneficial to the customer.

After 70 days of driving and more than 18,000 miles, the B-Class F-Cell’s have circled the globe and returned home to Stuttgart becoming the first round-the-world drive with fuel-cell vehicles.  The three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicles with zero local emissions drivelines crossed the finish line on June 1, 2011 in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The hydrogen-powered B-Classes and their support vehicles set off from Stuttgart at the end of January on the occasion of the official 125th birthday of the automobile, and on their way have crossed through 14 countries on four continents.

“With the F-CELL World Drive we have shown, that the time for electric vehicles with fuel cell has come. Now the development of the infrastructure has to pick up speed,” said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “For only an adequate number of hydrogen fueling stations enables car drivers to benefit from the advantages of this technology: high range, short refueling times, zero emissions.

Hydrogen infrastructure challenge

Within the scope of the F-CELL World Drive, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL was functioning as an ambassador for a new, zero-emissions auto-mobility of the future. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz was lobbying extensively for the establishment of a comprehensive network of hydrogen fueling stations – a crucial factor for the market success of this technology. So far, there are only approximately 200 fuel stations worldwide at which fuel cell vehicles can be refueled. According to expert calculations, a network of around 1,000 fixed fuel stations would be sufficient for basic nationwide coverage in Germany. A central aim of Mercedes-Benz is to see to it that, in future, drivers all over the world will be able to refuel with hydrogen – just as they do today with gasoline and diesel fuel.

The exclusive partner for hydrogen supply on the F-CELL World Drive was the Linde Group. Thanks to its hydrogen expertise and global presence, it was able to guarantee fuel supply throughout the entire world trip. A jointly developed mobile refueling unit based on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter accompanied the tour – the only way to ensure fuel supply even on the most remote stretches.

Proof of the everyday usability of fuel-cell drive

During the F-CELL World Drive, Mercedes-Benz was able to provide an impressive demonstration of the qualities of its fuel cell vehicles in terms of performance and robustness. The World Drive vehicles drove not only in downtown areas, on country roads and lengthy stretches of highway, but also proved their capabilities driving on unfinished surfaces, for example on stages in Australia and China.

Even a no-fault accident in Kazakhstan was unable to stop the B-Class F-CELL. On the route from Almaty to Balkhash, the number-three B-Class F-CELL was rammed on its rear left fender. The rear axle and bumper of the fuel-cell car both sustained damage. However, the fuel cell vehicle was repaired in a nearby workshop and continued its way around the world. Only a small dent in the bodywork bears testament to this single incident.

Round the world with hydrogen – the tour in figures

After 70 days of driving, participants in the F-CELL World Drive collected an abundance of travel notes documenting the multi-faceted aspects of the tour and, at the same time, underscoring the everyday usability of the fuel cell technology on board the B-Class F-CELL. The record distance of 648 kilometers, split between two stretches of more than 300 kilometers each, was covered on the drive from Almaty to Balkhash in Kazakhstan. Another likely record is the number of inhabitants in the places visited by the tour, ranging from no more than twenty in Balladonia, Australia, to an impressive 19 million in Shanghai, China. Due to the still insufficient hydrogen infrastructure, the mobile unit, which has been developed in cooperation with the Linde AG, was used around 130 times to refuel the B-Classes. Along the route, the B-Class F-CELL vehicles were also refueled in just a few minutes at two hydrogen fueling stations.

Mercedes-Benz long-distance drives – in the tracks of Bertha Benz

With the now historic F-CELL World Drive, the first round-the-world drive with fuel cell vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is adding to a long history of legendary long-distance drives. Examples include the first crossing of Africa in a car in 1909 and the longest diesel marathon – the “E-Class Experience” – run in 2006 over 14,000 kilometers from Paris to Beijing.

As far as its objective was concerned, the F-CELL World Drive has a direct connection to the world’s very first long-distance drive – the pioneering endeavor of Bertha Benz, who, in 1888, completed the first cross-country drive with the Benz Patent-Motorwagen from Mannheim to Pforzheim. She faced in principle the same challenge as her successors with the B-Class F-CELL – she, too, could not exactly roll into the next fuel station and top up.

In the early days of the automobile, drivers had to buy their fuel from the pharmacy, which is why Bertha Benz stopped at the town pharmacy in Wiesloch. That was the only place she could acquire the light gasoline “ligroin” – which was actually intended for domestic use as a stain remover, but also worked as fuel. First gradually, then with increasing speed, the fuel station network expanded into the worldwide infrastructure we know today. That was a defining factor in the triumphant procession of the combustion-engine-powered automobile invented in 1886 by Daimler and Benz. With new drive systems the motto is: alternative drives need alternative infrastructures. In the case of the B-Class F-CELL, this means hydrogen fueling stations. It is for this reason that Mercedes-Benz, as the inventor of the automobile, together with partners from commerce and politics, is lobbying heavily for the establishment of a comprehensive infrastructure – both for electric cars with fuel cells and for those with battery-electric drive.

There are only a few hours left for the three neon green Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell’s that took a journey around the world. The F-CELL World Tour is scheduled to arrive in Stuttgart on June 1st to what we can only imagine will be one hell of a welcome home party. If you’re interested in celebrating their return, head to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart at 3 pm June 1st.

If you are unfamiliar with the F-CELL World Drive and the B-Class F-Cell powered electric cars, they are an example of how developing a technology can also be in harmony with nature. The goal for future mobility is to eliminate Co2 emissions and the F-Cell showcases a technology that has the potential to make this possible.

Recap of F-CELL World Drive legs 24-27:

After a 9000-kilometre journey through China and Kazakhstan and some 25,000 locally emissions-free kilometres covered, our three fuel-cell vehicles crossed the final continental boundary of the tour on 15 May 2011: the 107th day of the F-CELL World Drive saw the tour head from Chelyabinsk to Ufa in Russia, and from there back to Europe, marking the successful crossing of the fourth continent of the journey, Asia. Just five countries remain for participants over the final 5000-kilometre leg of the tour, which is scheduled to finally return to Stuttgart on 1 June after 125 days.

Our three B-Class F-CELL vehicles are expected to cover more than 3000 kilometres on their journey through Russia before crossing into Finland on 23 May, and then on to the home straight via Scandinavia. The first stage on Russian soil, which leads from Chelyabinsk to the capital Moscow over four days, brings the tour back to Europe.

Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive in Europe – Leg 24: From Moscow to St. Petersburg

From the Russian capital Moscow, the F-CELL World Drive starts on its 24th leg on May 20. During three days, the vehicles travel 800 kilometers to St. Petersburg. One day before, local media took the opportunity to test drive the locally emission-free B-Class F-CELL in Moscow.

Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive in Europe – Leg 25: From St. Petersburg to Helsinki

On May 23, the F-CELL World Drive embarks on one of the shortest legs of the world tour: the one-day trip leads the participants from St. Petersburg in Russia into the finish capital Helsinki, thereby covering 450 kilometers. The journey then will continue from Helsinki to Stockholm via ferry.

Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive in Europe – Leg 26: From Stockholm to Oslo

From Stockholm in Sweden, the tour embarks on a 550 kilometers-journey to the neighbouring country Norway, to Oslo. The interest in fuel cell technology there is great: After Germany and the USA, Norway will be the third market where the B-Class F-CELL will be introduced. Also, on May 27, representatives of the local media have the opportunity to learn about fuel cell technology in Oslo.

Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive in Europe – Leg 27: From Oslo to Hamburg

On May 28 the F-CELL World Drive embarks on a two-day trip, leading it towards its destination Germany, where the tour departed from in January. From Oslo in Norway via Malmö in Sweden the route leads to Hamburg. The vehicles thereby cover a distance of 1.200 Kilometer in four countries. Before the beginning of this leg, media representatives in Oslo took the chance of a press event to learn about the emission-free fuel cell technology, which will soon be available in Norway.

Update: 06/01/2011

On May 30, the fuel cell vehicles will embark on the last leg of the F-CELL World Drive, leading them from Hamburg via Berlin and Nuremberg to the Mercedes-Benz Headquarters in Stuttgart. About XXX guests will then welcome the convoy after its 125-day trip in the course of a festivity, taking place in the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Furthermore, the Stuttgart-based automotive manufacturer hosts events in Hamburg, Berlin and Nuremberg in order to draw attention to the potential of fuel cell technology and the need for a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure.

On April 22, the F-CELL World Drive departed from the Auto Shanghai show in China for the last and longest leg of its round-the-world tour. From Shanghai the route takes the bright green F-Cell’s through Kazakhstan and Russia on their way back to Europe, where the tour began in January. In 41 days the three fuel cell powered B-Class F-CELL cars will cover around 14,000 kilometres on this final leg. The F-CELL World Drive was one of the highlights of the show in Shanghai. Before starting off from China the cars already absolved around 5,300 kilometres in Australia, and were transported to Asia by air for the last time of the tour. Previously the tour had successfully covered southern Europe and North America.

Since 30 January, the start of the F-CELL World Drive, these “green” fuel cell cars have gained worldwide attention. In addition to the world premiere of the “Concept A-Class” and the Chinese premieres of the new C-Class, the SLK and the CLS, they will also be highlights of the Auto Shanghai show.

The Auto Shanghai show also illustrates the high level of interest in fuel cell technology in China. An emission-free mobility solution also makes good sense in view of the high levels of fine dust pollution in Chinese cities, as well as the fast-growing number of car owners. Moreover, China is one of the most important markets for Mercedes-Benz, and also has great potential with respect to battery-powered electric vehicles.

F-CELL World Drive begins its homeward journey

Within 41 days the F-CELL World Drive will be crossing two continents and seven countries on the last leg of its journey. This means that the “green” B-Class F-CELL cars will not only capture attention in China, but also in Kazakhstan, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Germany. Local events in these various countries will ensure that fuel cell technology makes a lasting impression. In early June the tour will reach its starting and finishing point in Stuttgart.

The F-CELL World Drive not only passes through the major cities, but also through remote areas of the individual countries concerned. Accordingly the tour is also confronted with the challenge of unfamiliar road conditions and an inadequate supply infrastructure. To an even greater extent than before, the final leg of the journey will require an anticipatory style of driving – and this also applies to the vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines. Moreover, the backup navigation unit provided has no map material for Kazakhstan, therefore the participants must pay even more attention here. Just in case, maps of the countries concerned will be carried in each vehicle.

From Sydney to Perth: F-CELL World Drive crosses Australia

In Australia too, the tour was able to make acquaintance with remote regions when the F-CELL World Drive crossed southern Australia from Sydney to Perth between 29 March and 9 April, covering more than 5300 kilometres. In Adelaide the participants were able to celebrate the “half-way mark” of the 125-day tour. Previously the vehicles had crossed southern Europe and the USA, successfully covering a total of around 11,000 kilometres. In every city the F-CELL World Drive was given a hearty welcome.

Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive

During the F-CELL World Drive, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL cars are journeying through 14 countries on 4 continents – once around the globe. This round-the-world tour organised by Mercedes-Benz started off in Stuttgart on 30 January 2011, and will take 125 days – marking the 125th anniversary of the automobile – until the cars arrive back in Stuttgart in early June after covering 30,000 kilometres. The aim is to demonstrate the technical maturity and day-to-day suitability of fuel cell powered electric cars, and also to draw attention to the need for a widespread hydrogen infrastructure. The company is being assisted with the hydrogen supply for the tour by Linde AG.

On March 29th, after Europe and the USA & Canada legs, the third section of the F-CELL World Drive with the B-Class F-CELL cars began. This is the second time that Mercedes-Benz has brought fuel cell powered cars to Australia, as this locally emission-free technology was already used in Perth as part of the HyFLEET:CUTE STEP project. Three Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses with fuel cell drive were in operation in the city’s urban public transport system between 2004 and 2007, where they demonstrated their reliability and performance potential by covering a total of over 261,000 kilometres in Down Under. “One major advantage of fuel cell technology is that it can be used in a wide variety of vehicles, from passenger cars to buses. Moreover, it is not only suitable for short distances that are for example covered in public transport, but also for longer distances,” says Prof. Herbert Kohler, Head of E-Drive & Future Mobility in the Research and Pre-Development department, and Chief Environmental Officer of Daimler AG. “Fuel cell vehicles therefore have a great potential for CO2 reduction over a wide range of mobility needs.”

After a 13-day journey across the south of Australia, including detours to the famous Great Ocean Road, the stage of the F-CELL World Drive which is most distant from the final destination, will end in Perth on 10 April. From there, the green-painted B-Class F-CELL cars will embark on their last flight to Shanghai in China. After spending several days at the internationally important exhibition “Auto Shanghai”, their route will then take them more than 14,000 kilometres through the Eurasian continent until they arrive at their starting and finishing point in Stuttgart.

Mobile hydrogen fuelling station

One of the objectives of the F-CELL World Drive is to draw attention to the need for the development of a global hydrogen infrastructure that will make the widespread introduction of locally emission-free fuel cell vehicles possible. To date there are only very few public hydrogen fuelling stations in the world, and this presents a major challenge involving great logistical effort during this unique round-the-world tour. Public fuelling stations have so far only been available at the starting point in Stuttgart and in Los Angeles. Therefore refuelling procedures for the F-CELL World Drive required very precise planning. Two refuelling teams accompanying the tour ensure that the mobile fuelling station is available for the B-Class F-CELL cars at around midday and in the evenings. The hydrogen required is directly transported to the fuelling station by Linde AG. It is fed into the mobile fuelling unit, where it is compressed to the nominal 700 bar pressure under which it is filled into the B-Class F-CELL.

Flight arrangements subject to strict regulations

The cars must be transported from continent to continent by air for their round-the-world tour. In view of national Customs and other regulations, this too requires a great deal of careful organisation.

A jumbo jet is available to carry the tour across the seas. But there is only enough space for all the cars and other equipment if everything is loaded according to a precise plan. Fine visual judgement was therefore required when the vehicles were manoeuvred into the aircraft in Lisbon and Seattle, and of course a number of special safety regulations also needed to be satisfied. The entire tour is therefore accompanied by a crew of specialists who are well-prepared for these situations, and are able to ensure that all goes smoothly. All in all, around 20 technicians with wide-ranging expertise accompany the tour during its individual stages.

Preparations for the world tour

The preparations for this unique undertaking already began months in advance. All the route sections in Europe, the USA, Australia, China, Kazakhstan and Russia were surveyed beforehand, as only in this way could local conditions and refuelling locations be taken into account during the planning.

Indeed refuelling was the greatest challenge of all. All fuelling stops were precisely scheduled in advance to take the 380-kilometre operating range of the cars into account. Refuelling during the tour usually took place at Mercedes-Benz dealerships or Linde locations, as well as in suitable carparks and service stations.

Emission-free tour of North America with the B-Class F-CELL

Before flying to Australia the cars each covered around 10,000 kilometres on North American soil, with 18 driving days, three days of local events and numerous excursions for film and photo shoots. During this tour the participants were able to reduce the average fuel consumption of the B-Class F-CELL from the 1.18 kg of hydrogen per 100 kilometres achieved in Europe to just 1.15 kg. The fuel consumption record for the USA was 0.88 kg per 100 kilometres, corresponding to a diesel equivalent of less than 3 litres per 100 kilometres. Mercedes-Benz also used the tour to visit partner companies in North America. On 10 March the F-CELL World Drive paid a visit to the electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors, and also made a stop at the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC) in Vancouver (Canada), which is developing the fuel cell stack for the B-Class F-CELL in cooperation with the Daimler research and development department in Germany. Mercedes-Benz also took this opportunity to announce future intentions in the field of electromobility: from 2013 the company will produce fuel cell stacks in its own plant in Vancouver (Canada).

Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive

During the F-CELL World Drive, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicles are passing through 14 countries and 4 continents – to drive around the globe once. Organised by Mercedes-Benz, the circumnavigation of the world started on 30 January 2011 in Stuttgart and is scheduled to last 125 days, until the vehicles return to Stuttgart again at the beginning of June, after covering a distance of some 30,000 kilometres. The aim of the tour is to demonstrate the technical maturity and suitability for everyday use of electric vehicles with fuel cells, and at the same time highlight the need for a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure. The Stuttgart-based automotive manufacturer is being supported on the tour by Linde AG, which is responsible for supplying the hydrogen.

With the F-CELL World Drive, Mercedes-Benz is focusing global attention on the potential of e-mobility with fuel cell technology and is furthermore demonstrating impressively that this technology is ready for large-scale production. The next step to be taken for the industrialisation of this guiding technology is the development of a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure.

Leg 9 – Phoenix to Los Angeles:

On March 6th, the ninth leg led the B-Class F-CELL vehicles from Phoenix to Los Angeles, California. On its way to L.A. via San Diego, the F-CELL World Drive covered more than 478 miles (770 kilometres). At the end of the leg in Los Angeles, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL – for the first and only time in the U.S.A. – were refuelled at a public station within only three minutes of time.

Leg 10 – Los Angeles to Sacramento:

On day 39 of the circumnavigation, the F-CELL World Drive embarked on the tenth leg, which leads north through the coastal state of California. The route takes the participants through San Francisco as well as to the Californian capital Sacramento. During this leg, the vehicles cover a total of 590 miles (950 kilometers). By staging local activities, like in San Francisco and Sacramento, Mercedes-Benz furthermore offers interested parties the possibility to gather information about the potential of fuel cell technology and the B-Class F-CELL. Moreover, a visit at Tesla Motors is part of this tenth leg.

Leg 11 – Sacramento to Salem:

On the eleventh leg, the F-CELL World Drive embarks from Sacramento, California, to Salem, which is the capital of the state of Oregon. Each of the vehicles covers a total of 540 miles (870 kilometers) – locally emission-free.

To view the American F-Cell World Tour legs 6-8, click here.

Infrastructure in the USA: California points the way forward

The F-CELL World Drive is particularly highlighting the still existing gaps of the global hydrogen infrastructure. By the end of the USA section of the tour on 18 March, the B-Class F-CELL vehicles will have been refuelled around 35 times on the route from Miami to Seattle – but only one of these refuelling procedures will have taken place at a public hydrogen filling station, located in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

“The American market is already active in the field of fuel cell technology, but like in Europe, there is still a need for development when it comes to infrastructure. Together with our regional partners, we want to point out the potentials of this technology and to get important lead markets ready for the rollout of a high number of electric vehicles with fuel cell technology,” says Dr. Thomas Weber, the Daimler AG Board Member responsible for Group Research and Development for Mercedes-Benz Cars. So far there are a few filling stations in California as well as on the East Coast of the USA, in the city of New York and also in Michigan. Most of the activities are currently taking place in California, however. Customers in the city of Los Angeles – where a number of Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicles have been on the road since the end of 2010 – can already refuel their vehicles at five public hydrogen filling stations. Of these, three are equipped with the latest – and meanwhile globally standardized –700-bar technology which enables the tanks of B-Class vehicles to be filled in just three minutes for a range of about 400 kilometers.

Alongside further deliveries of B-Class vehicles with fuel cell drives to customers in the USA in 2011 and 2012, it is concretely planned to extend the supply network in American metropolitan areas. During a second stage they will then be linked up to each other. These steps will consequently spread fuel cell technology.

According to a study by UC Davis [1] , the basic supply of such zero-emission vehicles could be guaranteed with only about 40 hydrogen filling stations in the metropolitan area of Los Angeles. The State of California already provided an initial funding. Until today, 27 million US-Dollars went into the promotion of a hydrogen infrastructure. Another 14 million US Dollars is expected to be invested in 2011. For 2011 and 2012, the opening of further filling stations has been announced, four in the greater area of Los Angeles, two stations in the San Francisco Bay Area and 10 more stations in 2012. From 2012, a total of about 20 stations in California will supply electric vehicles with fuel cell technology with the necessary hydrogen.

These positive developments in the hydrogen infrastructure of California are also the result of Daimler AG’s almost 20-year commitment to fuel cell technology. For many years the company has been an active member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), an amalgamation of automotive manufacturers, energy suppliers, government bodies and technology companies, and also the newly established Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) in California.

The production of the necessary hydrogen today already provides a firm foundation for a future hydrogen infrastructure. The hydrogen industry in the USA could already supply up to 40 million vehicles. Pipelines, which can transport the hydrogen from the producers to the end-users, are already in place in many parts of the country.

On February 25th, 2011, the Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive began the second leg of its world tour with three neon green B-Class F-CELL vehicles. The U.S. journey began in Fort Lauderdale, FLand headed towards New Orleans, LA. In total, the vehicles will rack up around 4,660 miles in just the USA and Canada. After their brief visit, the F-Cell cars will board a plane and head to Australia via Seattle, WA.

We will continue to update you on the F-Cell World Drive progress with photos and daily updates. For now, read below for more information on the tour as well as brief diary excerpts from the World Drive staff below.

Local zero-emission motoring from Miami to Seattle

The second leg of the F-CELL World Drive is taking the three fuel cell vehicles across the North American continent, from Miami right across the USA and as far as Vancouver in Canada. The route then continues by airplane from Seattle to Australia. In doing so, the journey will also highlight the gaps in the American hydrogen infrastructure. By the end of the USA tour the B-Class F-CELL vehicles will have been refuelled around 35 times during 18 legs – but only one time will be at a public hydrogen filling station in Torrance, Los Angeles.

During the tour, the striking green paint finish of the B-Class F-CELL vehicles, which already caused a sensation at the Detroit Motor Show, isn’t the only feature raising attention to the tour. Local events in San Francisco, Sacramento, Salem and Vancouver will also provide the opportunity for an intensive exchange of ideas with local media, visitors and residents on the subject of fuel cell technology.

During this leg of the trip, which is scheduled to take roughly three weeks, participants can expect to enjoy a varied programme providing not only extensive opportunity to experience the B-Class F-CELL, but also interesting information on the topic of sustainable mobility. On 1 March the tour already paid a visit to the Daimler car2go mobility project in Austin, Texas. The next item of the agenda, due to take place on 10 March, is an intensive exchange on the topic of electric mobility at Tesla Motors in Palo Alto. Tesla designs and builds high performance electric cars and supplies powertrain components to leading OEMs. Tesla makes the lithium-ion battery and charger for Daimler’s smart fortwo electric drive and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-CELL. In Vancouver the participants will then be the guests of the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC). This is where the fuel cell stack for the B-Class F-CELL, for example, was developed in close cooperation with Daimler research and development staff from Germany. The company was established in 2007, with Daimler as the majority shareholder (50.1 percent). In addition, while in Vancouver the F-CELL World Drive will also meet up with adventurer and explorer Mike Horn and his PANGAEA Expedition, for which Mercedes-Benz is the main sponsor. The PANGAEA Expedition’s sailing ship has been visiting all of the continents, including both the North and South Pole, since October 2008. Together with young people from all over the world, expedition leader Mike Horn is setting up ecological and social projects on his trip around the world.

Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive Info

During the F-CELL World Drive, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicles are passing through 14 countries and 4 continents – to drive around the globe once. Organised by Mercedes-Benz, the circumnavigation of the world started on 30 January 2011 in Stuttgart and is scheduled to last 125 days, until the vehicles return to Stuttgart again at the beginning of June, after covering a distance of some 30,000 kilometres. The aim of the tour is to demonstrate the technical maturity and suitability for everyday use of electric vehicles with fuel cells, and at the same time highlight the need for a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure. The Stuttgart-based automotive manufacturer is being supported on the tour by Linde AG, which is responsible for supplying the hydrogen.

Leg 6:

On February 25th, 2011, the F-CELL World Drive embarked on the first leg in the USA from Fort Lauderdale to New Orleans. From 25th until 27 th of February, the vehicles passed through the four states Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana and thereby covered 1.460 kilometers.

“Our F-CELL World Drive finished the first diving day in the U.S. On February 25th the three B-Class F-CELL started their drive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at 8 a.m. After a refuelling stop during lunch time close to the Kennedy Space Center they continued their journeys to Jacksonville. Facts of the day: distance 568 km/ 353 miles, sunny weather and at least one sunburn.” F-Cell World Drive Blogger

Leg 7:

The seventh leg of the F-CELL World Drive led the vehicles from New Orleans in Louisiana over a distance of more than 1.070 kilometers to San Antonio, Texas. Along the way, the tour made a stopover at the mobility project car2go in Austin.

“The seventh leg of the F-CELL World Drive led the vehicles from New Orleans in Louisiana over a distance of more than 1.070 locally emission-free kilometres to San Antonio, Texas. Along the way, the tour made a stopover at the mobility project car2go in Austin. Right now, the tour and most of the team members have a spare day in San Antonio. Fair enough: ¼ of the tour done (31 days) — 94 days remaining.” F-Cell World Drive Blogger

Leg 8:

Starting from San Antonio on March 3rd , the three B-Class F-CELL vehicles set off on the eighth leg. The ride across the state of New Mexico to Phoenix in Arizona is the longest leg of the US-stage, covering a distance of more than 1.600 kilometers. On March 2nd the tour therefore used the opportunity to allow the participants a break in San Antonio.

“The F-CELL World Drive contested its 8th leg from San Antonio, Texas to Fort Stockton. Our team tackled more than 500 kilometres and got to know the almost waterless but rather adventurous and historically impressed outback of the “Lone Star State”. About 1/3 of the remaining distance to reach the next great destination is done. The Tour is already on its way to Deming: Phoenix is near! — 93 days left ” F-Cell World Drive Blogger

“From dawn till dusk…or almost dust?…F-CELL World Drives’ long way to Phoenix let the team leave Texas and have a stopover in Las Cruces, also known as “The City of Crosses”! Nearby the border of New Mexico they experienced the rough flair of this area. Searching for the famous Rio Grande was not successful…mostly dust…that’s what it is! Phoenix…the F-CELL World Drive is approaching…about 500 kilometres left!” F-Cell World Drive Blogger

“The F-CELL World Drive completed its 8th leg from San Antonio to Phoenix. Crossing the states of Texas and New Mexico the tour tackled over 1600 kilometres in 3 days and left behind the longest leg in the US in order to reach the capital of Arizona. More than ¼ of the route in done. The team is currently on the way towards LA – Full speed – or let’s say hydrogen – ahead!” F-Cell World Drive Blogger

F-Cell World Drive U.S. Diary Updates:

Day 1: Ft. Lauderdale – Kennedy Space Center – Jacksonville, Florida, 352 miles  Friday, February 25th

The drive began in Ft. Lauderdale on Friday, February 25th with journalists and bloggers behind the wheel of three F-CELLs. They are the first group of many national and international journalists who have been invited to join us along the route to test drive these vehicles. By mid-day, the entire team had arrived at the Kennedy Space Center where our first fueling took place. Fortunate for us the shuttle launch took place as scheduled the day before, so that we had plenty of space to refuel and enjoy the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Early evening we reached Jacksonville where our Parts Distribution Center welcomed us with a reception. Following a refuelling on their property, we regrouped poolside at our hotel to discuss the next day’s plans.

Day 2: Jacksonville – Tallahassee – Defuniak Springs, Florida, 303 miles   Saturday, February 26th

On day two we left Jacksonville, the beautiful Florida coast and entered a Starbucks neutral territory. At our first refuelling stop at a Linde distribution center in the state capital of Tallahassee, we enjoyed a southern style barbeque meal surrounded by cylinders of hydrogen, nitrogen and helium. Today we gained an extra hour settling comfortably into a new time zone in Defuniak Springs followed by dinner at Bogart’s Cafe in the town’s historic district.

Day 3: Defuniak Springs, Florida – Grand Bay, Alabama – Slidell, Louisiana, 263 miles  Sunday, February 27th

When our opening car starts out every morning at 6:30 am to prepare the fueling site, we are confident that all will run smoothly thanks to our advance team arriving the day before to ensure everything is in place. The fuel cell cars, by the way, are running smoothly and require no special attention. The field team spends most of their time and effort involved with the fueling process and the logistics of moving vehicles and people down the road.

Today we opted for a scenic route along the Gulf Coast to our first fueling site at the volunteer fire department of Grand Bay, Alabama. In the afternoon, NASA again supported our efforts by allowing us entry to the Stennis Space Center for our 2nd fueling of the day. The field team spent the night outside of New Orleans in Slidell, although some did enjoy Mardi Gras festivities on Bourbon Street, while others dined with the second group of journalists and bloggers who will accompany us to San Antonio.

Day 4: Slidell, Louisiana – Egan, Texas – Baytown, Texas, 342 miles  Monday, February 28th

Driving across the bayous of Louisiana, we left the sultry weather behind us and entered the vast expanse of Texas where we will spend the next four days. We received a warm southern welcome at our first fueling site in Egan, Texas but declined the offer to cool off at the truck stop casino. A lot of work is involved in refueling the vehicles. One important component of the operation is the hydrogen compressor which is housed in a Sprinter van. The vehicle seems to come alive during the fueling and emits all sorts of sounds during the process. It has since been christened “the Buffalo” because of its stamina, endurance and the noise it makes. Here in Texas we are on the look-out for some bull horns to complete the picture.

Day 5: Baytown, Texas – Austin, Texas – San Antonio, Texas, 311 miles   Tuesday, March 1st

We received more Southern hospitality with a Texas barbeque at the Austin Mercedes-Benz dealership while the Buffalo worked away at a nearby shopping mall parking lot. There at the fueling site we all had a look at a line-up of smart vehicles which are part of the successful vehicle loaner program car2go recently launched here in the capital of Texas. The afternoon drive lasted well into the evening as the F-CELLs drove a scenic route through the beautiful hill country of Texas and on into the city of San Antonio. The final members of the fuel support team arrived to the hotel in time for a near midnight snack. Fortunate for us we have the day off tomorrow to rest and explore San Antonio.

Today, February 25th, the F-CELL World Drive embarked on the second leg of its tour when three green Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicles set out from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on their first North American leg towards New Orleans, Louisiana. In total, the vehicles will be covering around 4,600 miles in the United States and Canada, after which they will leave from Seattle, Washington to continue their journey to Australia. So far the F-CELL World Drive has already clocked up more than 2,200 miles on the roads of Europe.

The Mercedes F-CELL World Drive will be travelling across North America until March 18, demonstrating the potential of fuel cell technology. In addition, with what is to date a unique undertaking, Mercedes-Benz is reaffirming the need to develop a comprehensive global hydrogen infrastructure. “We will have reached market maturity with fuel cell technology by 2015 at the latest. From that point we would then be in a position to bring several 100,000 vehicles, in a variety of different model series, onto the roads. For example we are also planning a saloon model with fuel cell drive and will thereby expand our portfolio of local zero-emission vehicles. Therefore, by that time, an infrastructure which allows the everyday operation of such vehicles, needs to be in place.”, according to Dr. Thomas Weber, the Daimler AG Board Member responsible for Group Research and Development for Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Now is therefore the time to increase speed and consistently develop the hydrogen filling station network.”

Local zero-emission motoring from Miami to Seattle

The second leg of the F-CELL World Drive is taking the three fuel cell vehicles across the North American continent, from Miami right across the USA and as far as Vancouver in Canada. The route then continues by airplane from Seattle to Australia. In doing so, the journey will also highlight the gaps in the American hydrogen infrastructure. By the end of the USA tour the B-Class F-CELL vehicles will have been refuelled around 35 times during 18 legs – but only one time will be at a public hydrogen filling station in Torrance, Los Angeles.

During the tour, the striking green paint finish of the B-Class F-CELL vehicles, which already caused a sensation at the Detroit Motor Show, isn’t the only feature raising attention to the tour. Local events in San Francisco, Sacramento, Salem and Vancouver will also provide the opportunity for an intensive exchange of ideas with local media, visitors and residents on the subject of fuel cell technology.

During this leg of the trip, which is scheduled to take roughly three weeks, participants can expect to enjoy a varied programme providing not only extensive opportunity to experience the B-Class F-CELL, but also interesting information on the topic of sustainable mobility. On 1 March the tour already paid a visit to the Daimler car2go mobility project in Austin, Texas. The next item of the agenda, due to take place on 10 March, is an intensive exchange on the topic of electric mobility at Tesla Motors in Palo Alto. Tesla designs and builds high performance electric cars and supplies powertrain components to leading OEMs. Tesla makes the lithium-ion battery and charger for Daimler’s smart fortwo electric drive and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-CELL. In Vancouver the participants will then be the guests of the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC). This is where the fuel cell stack for the B-Class F-CELL, for example, was developed in close cooperation with Daimler research and development staff from Germany. The company was established in 2007, with Daimler as the majority shareholder (50.1 percent). In addition, while in Vancouver the F-CELL World Drive will also meet up with adventurer and explorer Mike Horn and his PANGAEA Expedition, for which Mercedes-Benz is the main sponsor. The PANGAEA Expedition’s sailing ship has been visiting all of the continents, including both the North and South Pole, since October 2008. Together with young people from all over the world, expedition leader Mike Horn is setting up ecological and social projects on his trip around the world.

Heading through Europe with hydrogen in tow

Prior to setting off in the USA, the vehicles already proved themselves on a route covering more than 3000 kilometres through Southern Europe. The symbolic starting shot for the tour actually sounded on 29 January during the official ceremony to mark the 125th anniversary of the motor car, after which, just one day later, the B-Class

F-CELL vehicles set out on the first stage to Paris. After this they made for the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, driving via France and Spain.

The initial kilometres of the unique world tour have already displayed the need for action in terms of the provision of hydrogen. The accompanying participants from the USA and China discovered that even a fuel cell vehicle such as the B-Class F-CELL can provide an enjoyable and dynamic driving experience as well as high cruising speeds: On the German motorways they kept the vehicles at a speed of 170 km/h. The consequences of this style of driving became apparent later, however, when it was discovered that the tanks of two of the three vehicles were empty approx. 40 kilometres before the scheduled fuel stop. This resulted in the realisation that, even with a fuel cell vehicle, driving fast results in increased consumption, and that all drivers can cover longer local zero-emission motoring distances by adopting an economical driving style. On subsequent legs, the real goal of the participants was to achieve as low a consumption as possible by adopting an appropriate driving style at comfortable speeds. As part of this, one of the drivers even managed to better an NEDC-certified (New European Driving Cycle) value equivalent to 3.3 litres of fuel (diesel equivalent) per 100 kilometers, resulting in a range of 380 km.

For Mercedes-Benz, these initial problems most notably reflect the need for action when it comes to the provision of hydrogen. The refuelling situation on the F-CELL World Drive underpins this issue. At the start in Stuttgart, the vehicles could still be refuelled at the public hydrogen filling station of OMV. However, up until the preliminary leg destination of Lisbon, the vehicles had to resort to alternatives, such as the mobile refuelling vehicle developed specifically for the tour. This was developed in conjunction with Linde AG, which is also guaranteeing the supply of hydrogen for the entire world tour, something which represents a significant challenge since the hydrogen has to be made available at each of the refuelling stops at the right time, in the right quantity and with the necessary degree of purity.

Despite the partial difficult conditions – which a trip around the world brings along with it – after extensive test drives it has become apparent to the participants of the tour that the B-Class F-CELL is highly suited to everyday use. Furthermore, as determined at a routine evening check in Lyon, even animals such as the pine marten are keen on the technology too. Two small holes in the cooling and heating hoses, caused by the teeth of the predators, were the fuel cell vehicle’s first small issues requiring repair.

Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive

During the F-CELL World Drive, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicles are passing through 14 countries and 4 continents – to drive around the globe once. Organised by Mercedes-Benz, the circumnavigation of the world started on 30 January 2011 in Stuttgart and is scheduled to last 125 days, until the vehicles return to Stuttgart again at the beginning of June, after covering a distance of some 30,000 kilometres. The aim of the tour is to demonstrate the technical maturity and suitability for everyday use of electric vehicles with fuel cells, and at the same time highlight the need for a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure. The Stuttgart-based automotive manufacturer is being supported on the tour by Linde AG, which is responsible for supplying the hydrogen.

Leg 1: The first leg of the F-CELL World Drive started on 30th January 2011 at 8:00 a.m. in Stuttgart, Germany. The vehicles first drove to Reims, via Loudres, where the first refuelling stop took place. The three B-Class F-CELL vehicles finally arrived at their destination Paris at noontime on 31st January. During the first leg, the three fuel cell vehicles covered a distance of 660 kilometres, while driving locally emission free.

Leg 2: The second leg began in the early morning of 2nd February 2011 in Paris and led through Sermoise sur Loire, where the vehicles were refuelled for the first time, straight to Lyon. The three B-Class F-CELL vehicles covered a distance of 500 kilometers – locally emission-free. One day before, on 1st February, the first press-event of the F-CELL World Drive offered local journalists the opportunity to see for themselves that the B-Class F-CELL is technically mature.

Leg 3: On 4th February 2011, the third leg of the F-CELL World Drive led the vehicles to Perpignan in France. The day after, the vehicles embarked on a 200 kilometers journey towards the Spanish coastal town of Barcelona. The vehicles covered an overall distance of about 690 kilometers. On 3rd February, the second event for local media took place in Lyon.

Leg 4: The third press-event of more than 20 similar activities during the F-CELL World Drive, took place on 7th February in Barcelona. On 8th February 2011, the three B-Class F-CELL vehicles travelled further to Valencia. One day later, the Tour continued their journey towards the Spanish capital Madrid. 700 kilometers were added to the mileage during the fourth leg.

Leg 5: After the forth press event of the F-CELL World Drive in Madrid, the vehicles travelled for two days from 11th until 12th February – due to an overnight stop in Badajoz – to reach the Portuguese capital Lisbon. On the last leg in Europe, the vehicles have covered a distance of more than 660 kilometers. Every single B-Class F-CELL has travelled a total of 3,250 kilometers during the first part of the F-CELL World Drive, not including the distances, the cars covered in the course of local activities. All in all, each of the vehicles will achieve a mileage of about 4,000 kilometers. After another press day on February 14th in Cascais, close to Lisbon, the vehicles will leave Europe via airplane, in order to carry on their journey in the USA on February 25, 2011.

The Auto Express spies have caputured photos of a 1:4-scale clay model of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class ahead of the full-size version’s reveal later this year.

Despite its size, the design model reveals that Mercedes has toned down the current car’s innovative MPV hatchback body style. The model is clearly inspired by the Mercedes Blue Zero F-Cell concept, which can be seen full-size in green-gold and hidden by a cover.

The clay model shows that the radical LED headlights have been toned down from the concept for the new car, code named W176. The striking creases of the concept have been included – the top one which runs back along the top front of the front wheelarch, references the new CLS, while the larger, which rises from the sills to the taillights adds interesting shadows, helps to make the car look more dynamic.

The entry-level 1.2 liter A-Class engines will come from Mercedes’ new tie-up with Renault , and the 1.4-liter petrol and a 1.6-liter diesel will be getting engines from the French firm. The rest of the all-four-cylinder line-up will be sourced from Mercedes, with the 1.8-liter direct injection petrol and 2.1 liter diesel.

An AMG unit A22 is therefore in the pipeline, using a 270bhp. The A-Class Mercedes model will become the second to feature a seven-speed DSG gearbox as standard, after the SLS AMG.

Three and five-door models will come first, with a small SUV to take on the BMW X1 in the pipeline too. UK A-Class models will be front-wheel-drive, with 4Matic four-wheel-drive models being offered in other markets.

The new A-Class has been designed to appeal to younger buyers. It’ll be cheaper to build than before, thanks to the firm ditching the expensive and complex sandwich floor for a more conventional platform.

The new B-Class will share the same underpinnings, but will be aimed at buyers of the VW Touran and Ford C-MAX, and offered with five or seven seats.

Thanks to Kevin for alerting us to the photos at Auto Express.

Thanks to the B-Class F-CELL, the employees of the German Federal Ministry of Transport will soon be able to enjoy local zero-emission motoring on business trips. This is because Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, presented a fuel cell car to German Federal Minister for Transport Peter Ramsauer in Berlin today. Another B-Class F-CELL was also accepted by NOW GmbH – the National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology.

“Electric cars featuring fuel cell drives have the potential to revolutionize our mobility again. The fuel cell drive in the B-Class F-CELL is efficient, clean and highly suitable for everyday use. It enables local zero-emission motoring with a range of around 400 kilometres, and this is with a refuelling time of just three minutes. In addition, the vehicle really comes into its own in terms of driving pleasure”, explained Dr. Thomas Weber.

“Germany is a world leader in the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technology. We now need to build on this lead. Our goal is clear: today we are building the best cars in the world, and in the future we also want to build the best electric cars in the world. To achieve this we need marketable, practical products, because the success of electric mobility will depend to a great extent on acceptance by users. This is why we are promoting electric mobility not only with batteries, but also with hydrogen and fuel cells. In cities, on short journeys, I see great potential for electric cars with batteries. On longer routes, electric vehicles featuring fuel cells present an interesting option”, noted Federal Minister for Transport Mr. Ramsauer.

Local zero-emission mobility

In the current B-Class F-CELL, the 100 kW/136 hp electric motor, which develops torque of 290 Nm, delivers dynamism from the instant the engine starts to turn. At the same time the B-Class F-CELL achieves an NEDC consumption (New European Driving Cycle) equivalent to only 3.3 litres of fuel (diesel equivalent) per 100 kilometres. With its long range and short refuelling times, the B-Class F-CELL combines local zero-emission mobility and high performance with suitability for long distances. At the heart of the drive system is the optimised, latest generation fuel cell system which is compact, powerful, safe and suitable for everyday use.

The fuel cell generates the electrical power on board the vehicle, from a chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen – producing only pure water and zero emissions. The integrated safety concept of the B-Class F-CELL takes the specific characteristics of the innovative drive system into account. The experience garnered over many years by Mercedes-Benz with the electric drive powered with fuel cells from the A-Class F-CELL and the high-voltage technology involving the lithium-ion battery from the S 400 HYBRID went into honing the concept.

Everyday use demonstrates practical suitability

In order to gather more experience from everyday use of the vehicle, which will be of benefit for subsequent model series, on the basis of market research data Mercedes-Benz has chosen a representative customer group consisting of fleet operators, public institutions, public figures and private customers as “test drivers”. In all, by 2012 around 90 B-Class F-CELL vehicles will be introduced into the German market. Within the scope of the National Innovation Program Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP), BMVBS advances the allocation and operation of the B-Class F-CELL. At the same time, the vehicle is also being put to practical everyday use in the USA as well as a number of other countries. It is expected that in 2012 a total of around 200 examples of the environmentally friendly electric cars will be operated on the roads by customers.

A million electric vehicles on German roads by 2020

A prerequisite for the introduction of fuel cell vehicles as well as the necessary infrastructure they require is that all of the parties involved must pull together. Support from public authorities is particularly important in order to ensure prompt and extensive implementation of the mobility concept. As part of the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Programme (NIP), which is coordinated by NOW, the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development is supporting research and development work, as well as demonstrating hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the areas of transport, stationary supply and special markets with investment currently totalling 500 million euros. Initiatives such as the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) are also expected to provide proof of the system capabilities of accompanying technologies. These include the electrolytic production and storage of gaseous hydrogen at filling stations, and the central CO2-free extraction of hydrogen and its subsequent delivery and on-site storage. The aim is to put the economic efficiency of hydrogen production from regenerative energy sources to the test in actual operation, to guarantee quick, safe refuelling, and also to demonstrate the suitability for everyday use of high-performance, near production standard hydrogen vehicles. “I want this future technology to become part of everyday life – including part of our lives here at the Ministry. This is why we are striving to set an example: as of today, in addition to a battery car, we will also be using a fuel cell vehicle to meet the Ministry’s official motoring requirements”, explained the Federal Minister for Transport.

The first new Mercedes-Benz F-CELL hydrogen-powered B-Class vehicles are now available to California residents, making emission-free driving a reality. Mr. Vance Van Petten took the keys to the very first Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicle available to U.S. customers during an official hand-over at the newly renovated dealership of Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz in Newport Beach.

Mr. Van Petten, Executive Director of the Producers Guild of America, said, “As a long-time environmental advocate and supporter of sustainable production and eco-friendly transport, I’m thrilled to be driving a vehicle that I believe represents the future of environmentally thoughtful transportation — not only does it have zero emissions, but it also provides me with all of the safety technology one expects from Mercedes-Benz.”

Mr. Van Petten is part of a select group of people who are participating in a Mercedes-Benz lease program for the B-Class F-CELL Hydrogen car. As part of an initiative to further develop F-CELL vehicles and gain real-world experience in the United States, these vehicles will also be used to provide driving data to the Department of Energy (DOE) to support their Hydrogen to the Highways program. Due to the restricted number of Hydrogen fueling stations, Mercedes-Benz sought prospects for the F-CELL lease through its own survey and vetting process to determine who among the many applicants would become among the first to lease the F-CELL hydrogen vehicles. Those interested in leasing an F-CELL can visit

Powered by an electric motor with 134 horsepower and 215 lb-ft of torque, the new B-Class F-CELL provides driving performance comparable to a similar conventional car while using about half the fuel. The car utilizes a fuel cell stack for generating electricity and a lithium ion battery for energy storage. Taking only approximately three minutes to refuel, The B-Class F-CELL emits only water as a by-product of the fuel cell system.

“The introduction of the F-CELL in California marks the beginning of zero emission Fuel Cell technology in the US for Mercedes-Benz,” said Sascha Simon, head of advanced product planning at Mercedes-Benz USA. “With a range of 240 miles that never needs to be plugged and more than 15 years of Mercedes-Benz research already committed to the technology, we believe this is a great addition to our fast growing portfolio of alternative fuel vehicles that customers can choose from to best suit their lifestyle.”

The F-Cell made an appearance this summer at the US Open Tennis Championships where Mercedes-Benz is the official vehicle. It played its part within the overall green fleet for VIP and player transportation, which also included Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid sedans. Alec Baldwin, this past tournament’s USTA green ambassador arrived at the tournament’s Opening Ceremony in the F-CELL.

Californians are no strangers to Mercedes-Benz eco-friendly vehicles including Hollywood’s elite. Individuals such as Demi Moore, Gerard Butler, Simon Baker, Toby Maguire and Katharine McPhee among others are choosing Mercedes-Benz because it offers safety and technology with solid environmental credentials without sacrificing luxury. These vehicles range from the S400 HYBRID luxury sedan to the ML450 HYBRID mid-size SUV. Also popular are the clean diesel BlueTEC sedans and SUVs like the E350 BlueTEC and the R, ML and GL350 BlueTEC.

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG four-door coupe will make its world debut at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, open to the public November 19-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Other new Mercedes-Benz models at the L.A. Auto Show will include the redesigned CL coupe and R-Class crossover lines as well as the all-new E-Class Cabriolet. In addition, an update about the launch of the fuel cell-powered Mercedes-Benz F-CELL car will take place during a press conference at the Mercedes-Benz exhibit.

High-Performance CLS63 AMG Four-Door Coupe

Center stage at the L.A. Show, the all-new 2012 CLS63 AMG will be powered by a new 5.5-liter biturbo V8 that produces more power and better fuel economy. With twin turbochargers, direct fuel injection and multi-spark ignition, the new AMG engine will produce 518 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. The new CLS63 AMG will also come with AMG’s award-winning MCT (for multi-clutch technology) transmission and innovative systems designed to reduce fuel consumption. For even more performance, the CLS63 AMG will be available with an optional Performance Package that includes increased power – 550 hp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque.

With fresh body lines that accentuate the distinctive shape of the swoopy four-door coupe, the new-generation CLS-Class represents the first major redesign of a car that established an entirely new market segment – the four-door coupe. Defining yet another market segment in an ever-expanding and highly competitive auto industry, the CLS was the first four-door vehicle to combine the emotional appeal and dynamic design of a coupe with the comfort and functionality of a four-door sedan.

The Fuel-Cell-Powered F-CELL

In addition, an update about the U.S. rollout of the fuel-cell-powered Mercedes-Benz F-CELL car will take place at the Mercedes-Benz exhibit during news media activities prior to the public opening of the show. Essentially an electric car that makes its own power on board, the Mercedes-Benz F-CELL boasts 54 miles per gallon (EPA combined city-highway equivalent fuel mileage) and a range of about 230 miles. Running on compressed hydrogen, and with water as the F-CELL’s only exhaust emission, the hydrogen and air react without combustion in the fuel cell, producing current to run the 136-horsepower electric motor. The F-CELL is also equipped with a 35-kilowatt lithium-ion battery that stores recovered braking energy, helps provide instant acceleration and ensures fast starting in very cold weather.

The hydrogen gas is stored in 10,150-psi tanks that can be refueled in only three minutes. Beginning in Southern California, the new F-CELL car is being offered through a lease program in markets with growing networks of hydrogen refueling stations.

Other New Mercedes-Benz Models

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL – the company’s premium two-door coupe – is also on display at the L.A. Auto Show. Restyled for 2011, its refinements include an aggressive front hood with two wide recesses and sleeker front fenders incorporating bi-xenon headlights, LED turn signals and daytime running lights. New rear styling features dual exhaust pipes that exit through a new bumper, back-up lights integrated in the trunk lid and LED taillights.

The 2011 CL coupe line is comprised of four distinctive models. The all-wheel-drive CL550 4MATIC is powered by a 4.6-liter version of the new biturbo V8 that produces 429 hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. Like the CLS63 AMG, the high-performance CL63 AMG model now comes with AMG’s new 5.5-liter biturbo V8 (536 hp, 590 lb.-ft.) and AMG’s MCT transmission. The V12- powered CL600 (510 hp, 612 lb.-ft.) and the CL65 AMG (621 hp, 738 lb.-ft.) round out the 2011 CL coupe line.

The latest addition to the successful Mercedes-Benz E-Class line, the two-door, four-seat Cabriolet will share the spotlight with the CLS63 AMG and the F-CELL car. The Cabriolet features a classic fabric soft top that can be opened or closed in 20 seconds, even at speeds up to 25 mph. The two-door Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet family is available with the choice of a V6 or V8 engine. The E350 uses the latest four-valve-per-cylinder V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, while the E550 model is powered by a 32-valve 5.5- liter V8 delivering 382 hp and 391 lb.-ft. of torque.

The 2011 R-Class crossover features a redesigned front hood and bolder grille as well as new fenders and headlights, sleeker side mirrors and LED taillights. A new rear bumper includes an integrated reflector, dual exhaust outlets and a black air diffuser. The 2011 interior reveals a 3D instrument cluster and “saddle” head restraints for the 2nd and 3rd row seats as well as new wood trim and seat stitching throughout.

As the Official Vehicle of the US Open, Mercedes-Benz USA that it is a driving force behind the USTA’s commitment to green initiatives by providing Mercedes-Benz S400 HYBRID sedans and Mercedes-Benz F-CELL (Hydrogen Electric Vehicle powered by a fuel cell) vehicles representing 60 percent of the fleet used for player and VIP transportation during the 2010 US Open tournament.

As an innovator in luxury eco-transportation, Mercedes-Benz is dispatched its F-CELL hydrogen fuel vehicles with zero emissions in addition to 75 S400 HYBRID vehicles in an effort to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the US Open tournament. The US Open launched its comprehensive environmental program three years ago and continues to expand green initiatives each year. In 2010, key initiatives include recycling, energy management, composting and utilizing paper products comprised of at least 30% post-consumer waste. In addition, a new green PSA campaign is planned featuring Alec Baldwin.

“We are very excited to participate in the USTA’s environmental strategy and positively impact the US Open green initiatives through the Mercedes-Benz transportation fleet. By tapping our portfolio of eco vehicles, we can provide athletes, staff and officials with green transportation without having to sacrifice luxury or safety,” said Stephen Cannon, Vice President of Marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. “Over the next four years, Mercedes-Benz is committed to exploring new ways through innovative eco mobility to help the USTA expand their environmental initiatives.”

MERCEDES-BENZ S400 HYBRID

The S400 HYBRID features the world’s first lithium-ion battery designed specifically for automotive use. The light-weight, high-capacity lithium-ion battery works with a 20-horsepower electric motor and a 275-hp V6 gasoline engine to provide hybrid power with impressive fuel economy estimated at 30 miles per gallon on the highway making it the clear GREEN choice for the US Open transportation fleet.

An added bonus of driving green cars like the Mercedes-Benz Hybrid, beyond not sacrificing space, safety or luxury, is the IRS alternative-powertrain tax credit. The Mercedes-Benz hybrid credit for the S400H is $1150. The current tax credit for the S400 HYBRID is $1150.

MERCEDES-BENZ F-CELL

Essentially an electric car that makes its own power on board, the new Mercedes-Benz F-CELL has a range of about 240 miles refueling with refueling taking only a few minutes. Running on compressed hydrogen, the F-CELL boasts an equivalent fuel mileage of 71.3 city-highway combined miles per gallon and water is the F-CELL’s only emission.

In 1994, the NECAR 1, the world’s first vehicle fitted with an electric drive with fuel cells was launched. Since then, Mercedes-Benz has made enormous progress in developing this technology: local zero-emission fuel cell vehicles have performed superbly in test fleets. In 2009, Mercedes‑Benz took the decisive step towards mass production of the electric drive with fuel cells as it started to manufacture the B‑Class F‑CELL under series production conditions.

1999 – The NECAR 4 managed for the first time to house a 70-kW/95-hp electric drive with fuel cells including the tank entirely in the sandwich floor of the A‑Class. The research vehicle was powered by compressed hydrogen and had a range of 200 kilometres.

2003 – The first of 30 fuel cell urban buses based on the Mercedes-Benz Citaro went into regular service in Madrid and Stuttgart. Other European cities as well as Perth (Australia) and Beijing were to follow. By 2006 all the vehicles had clocked up over two million zero-emission kilometres in around 135,000 operating hours.

2004 – Mercedes-Benz handed over ten fuel cell cars to customers in Berlin. The A‑Class F‑CELL filled up with hydrogen at the public filling station run by the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP).

2009 – Mercedes-Benz unveiled its near-series Concept BlueZERO study, a modular drive concept for electric vehicles with a battery-electric drive system, with fuel cells, and with an electric motor and additional combustion engine as a range extender.

2009 – Mercedes-Benz produced the first fuel cell vehicles under series production conditions with the small production series of the B‑Class F‑CELL. Thanks to 700-bar high-pressure hydrogen technology the range of the 100-kW/136-hp vehicle, which is suited for everyday use, was extended to around 400 kilometres.

Mercedes-Benz fuel cell vehicles have already demonstrated their day-to-day suitability, including in large-scale field-trials. With more than 100 test vehicles and a combined total of over 4.5 million kilometres of trial testing, the company boasts the most extensive experience with fuel cell-based electric drive systems of any manufacturer worldwide. However, certain challenges still need to be overcome, including a nationwide network of hydrogen filling stations, before local zero-emission motoring can become a widespread reality.

Mercedes-Benz can fall back on its extensive experience in fuel cell technology: since 1994 the Stuttgart-based car maker has been conducting research into the use of the electric drive with fuel cells in the motor car, thus building up outstanding technology know-how. Some 180 registered patents in the field of fuel cell technology are testimony to the company’s pioneering work. As part of various large-scale field tests involving fuel cell vehicles, 100 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, buses and vans have been in daily use on the road with customers and have already clocked up over 4.5 million kilometres. Such tests provide important insights for the further development of the local zero-emission drive system – also in relation to user behaviour when utilising the new technology.

Joint initiatives promote infrastructure

Daimler AG reached a significant milestone in terms of a sufficient supply of hydrogen in September 2009 by joining forces with EnBW, Linde, OMV, Shell, Total, Vattenfall and NOW GmbH (Nationale Organisation Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellentechnologie). In a memorandum of understanding the partners agreed to a plan to set up a filling station network in two phases. Phase I will examine various options for setting up a nationwide hydrogen filling station network as well as developing a joint, economically viable business concept. The aim is also to develop concepts for setting up new, additional hydrogen filling stations by 2011. If the business continues to perform well, the partners will then implement a suitable action plan in Phase II. This forms the basis for the nationwide roll-out of a hydrogen filling station network. This initiative receives funding as part of the German government’s Recovery Package II. Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation/Opel, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, the joint venture Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corporation agreed previously in a letter of understanding to commercialise fuel cell vehicles from 2015 onwards.

Daimler AG has been committed to promoting this important issue for many years, reflected in its participation in joint projects, cooperation with government agencies, power utilities and oil companies in places such as Hamburg, Stuttgart and California. The City of Hamburg has become the centre for local zero-emission mobility on the basis of the electric drive with fuel cells. In the spring, the City teamed up with Daimler, Shell, Total and Vattenfall Europe to launch a major project for the use of passenger cars and buses using fuel cell technology. From the end of 2010 the first of a total of ten latest-generation fuel cell buses will be on the roads in Hamburg. They will be joined by 20 B‑Class F‑CELL vehicles. By 2014 a total of four hydrogen filling stations should be up and running. The aim of the joint initiative is to promote the development of a zero-emission vehicle fleet and the associated infrastructure. In cooperation with Linde AG and Daimler AG, OMV turned its Stuttgart Airport site into the first public hydrogen filling station in Baden-Württemberg in June 2009. In the USA, Daimler AG is promoting fuel cell technology in the car as part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership.

Hydrogen as an energy source

A decisive advantage of electric vehicles with a fuel cell drive system is that they generate zero emissions locally. Just how much CO2 is generated during hydrogen production depends on the form of energy or the process used. The bulk of the hydrogen required today is generated by means of a steam reforming process. Natural gas and water vapour are processed in the steam reformer at high temperatures to produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the first instance. The following step involves converting the carbon monoxide component into carbon dioxide and hydrogen through the addition of steam. The highly efficient fuel cell means the overall CO2 emissions of 20 to 30 percent are already well below those for ultra-modern diesel vehicles.

Furthermore, hydrogen can also be easily produced from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. This allows hydrogen to be produced by means of electrolysis, as well as through the use of biomass. The synthesis gas (essentially carbon monoxide and hydrogen) produced in the initial process stage is converted into carbon dioxide and hydrogen. As the proportion of renewable energy is increased, so the process moves ever closer to an entirely CO2-neutral energy chain.

Combustion engine remains the most important drive system

Mercedes-Benz sees the development of electric vehicles with battery and fuel cell for tomorrow’s local zero-emission driving as a way of supplementing the extremely clean, economical BlueEFFICIENCY models and hybrid vehicles already available. However, a range of limiting factors still exists, such as system costs and infrastructure, as well as range and performance for battery-driven vehicles in particular, when it comes to smooth, comfortable operation. Advanced diesel and petrol engines will remain important for automotive applications for a long time to come – not only for individual mobility in passenger cars – especially over long distances – but, more importantly, for freight transport in trucks. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, will increasingly be used in urban transport. Consequently, Mercedes-Benz has developed a wide-ranging portfolio of solutions. And as part of this strategy the combustion engine will continue to play a crucial role. Despite enormous progress, the electric car – whether powered by a fuel cell or a battery – cannot completely replace vehicles powered by a combustion engine over the short-term.

Mercedes-Benz utilises PEMFC fuel cells (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) for the F‑CELL vehicles. An assessment of various fuel cell designs showed them to be the best option for motor vehicles. The key advantage when it comes to vehicle drive systems is their operating temperature of up to around 80 degrees Celsius.

A fuel cell is a voltaic cell that converts the reaction energy of an added fuel (e.g. hydrogen) and an oxidising agent (e.g. airborne oxygen) into electrical energy. A fuel cell is not an energy storage device like a rechargeable battery, but an energy converter.

The drive system on a fuel cell vehicle is twice as efficient as a vehicle with a combustion engine, essentially the result of converting the fuel’s (hydrogen) chemical energy directly into electrical energy. At the heart of the PEM fuel cell is the proton exchange membrane (PEM), a plastic film that conducts protons, and which separates the reaction agents: oxygen and hydrogen. The plastic film measuring just a few tenths of a millimetre is coated with a thin layer of platinum on both sides. This platinum layer acts as a catalyst for the chemical reaction that breaks down the hydrogen into protons and electrons. While the protons flow through the membrane to the oxygen, the electrons are prevented from getting through. The hydrogen reacts with the oxygen to create water, which is dissipated into the atmosphere. The excess electrons on the hydrogen side and the lack of electrons on the oxygen side induce an electrical voltage. If the two poles are connected, an electric current flows, which drives the electric motor in the F‑CELL vehicle. Apart from electrical energy, the reaction in the fuel cell also generates heat that can be used to heat the vehicle, for instance.

To achieve sufficient electrical power for fuel cell vehicles, individual fuel cells are electrically connected in series to create stacks. A control unit ensures the stack is supplied with the right amounts of hydrogen, and oxygen from the air. The hydrogen is fed into the stack via the anode module, while the air is added via the cathode module. A humidifier module keeps the stack moist to achieve optimum operating conditions within the stack. A cooling system always maintains the fuel cell at its optimum operating temperature of around 80 degrees Celsius.

System partner for the zero-emission drive system

The Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation headquartered in Vancouver developed the fuel cell stack for the B‑Class F‑CELL. The company was founded in 2007 with Daimler as the majority shareholder (50.1 percent). Other partners include the Ford Motor Company (30 percent) and Ballard Power Systems (19.9 percent).

NuCellSys GmbH developed the ancillary units to operate the fuel cell stack and integrate the stack into the fuel cell system. The wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG is responsible for system engineering and design, component and software development as well as system validation.

Mercedes-Benz is launching its first series-produced electric car with a fuel cell on the road: the new B‑Class F‑CELL. The small-scale production of the environmentally friendly electric car is already underway. The first of around 200 vehicles will be delivered to customers in Europe and the USA in spring next year. At the heart of the B‑Class F‑CELL is the new-generation electric drive system powered by a fuel cell, which is compact, powerful, safe and fully suited for everyday use. The fuel cell generates the electrical power on board, while producing little more than pure water and zero emissions. The key drive components are located in the sandwich floor, where they are protected and do not take up much space, leaving the vehicle’s interior and boot fully usable. Thanks to its long range of around 400 kilometres and short refuelling times, the B‑Class F‑CELL combines local zero-emission mobility with long-distance comfort and compelling performance. Driving pleasure and performance on a par with a 2.0-litre petrol car come courtesy of the 100-kW/136-hp electric motor, which develops effortlessly superior torque of 290 Nm. The B‑Class F‑CELL consumes the equivalent of 3.3 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

The technology for the B‑Class F‑CELL drive system is based on the optimised latest-generation fuel cell system. It is some 40 percent smaller than the system in the A-Class F‑CELL from 2004, but develops 30 percent more power while consuming 30 percent less fuel. The main drive system components include:

• A compact fuel cell stack
• A powerful lithium-ion battery
• Three 700-bar tanks for the hydrogen and
• A compact, lightweight drive motor at the front axle.

Cold-start capability down to minus 25 degrees Celsius

The fuel cell module in the B‑Class F‑CELL, the stack, boasts outstanding cold-start capability down to minus 25 degrees Celsius. The system features a new humidification system consisting of hollow fibres that ensures, unlike with the first-generation fuel cell, that water no longer freezes in the stack, a characteristic that used to impair cold-start capability. Even at minus 15 degrees Celsius the B‑Class F‑CELL starts just as quickly as the very latest diesel engine. A dedicated operating strategy helps ensure the fuel cell stack reaches its optimum operating temperature of around 80 degrees Celsius as quickly as possible each time the vehicle is started. Thanks to the powerful cooling system and intelligent temperature management, this ‘pleasant temperature’ is maintained constant under all operating conditions.

Range of around 400 kilometres with the tanks full

The hydrogen used to run the fuel cell is stored in three tanks at a pressure of 700 bar. Each tank holds just under 4 kilograms of the gaseous fuel. The tanks are hermetically sealed from the outside world, preventing the loss of hydrogen into the atmosphere even if the vehicle is left to stand for long periods.

Thanks to the high compression ratio, the B‑Class F‑CELL can cover long ranges of up to 400 kilometres with the tanks full, over twice as far as the A-Class F‑CELL. If the tanks are empty, they can be filled simply and quickly in less than three minutes, thanks to a standardised refuelling system.

Equivalent of just 3.3 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres

The electric motor – a permanently excited synchronous motor – develops a peak output of 100 kW/136 hp and a maximum torque of 290 Nm – typical of the high torque generated by an electric motor –, which is available from the instant the engine starts to turn. It ensures that the B‑Class F‑CELL, whose impressive dynamic handling properties are in some cases far better than those of a two-litre petrol car, gets off to an excellent start. Nonetheless, the local zero-emission electric drive with fuel cells consumes the equivalent of just 3.3 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres (NEDC).

Compact lithium-ion battery with large storage capacity

A powerful high-voltage lithium-ion battery is used to store the power. It boasts an energy capacity of 1.4 kWh and is cooled via the air-conditioning system circuit. When it came to the battery for the B‑Class F‑CELL, Mercedes‑Benz drew on the experience garnered during the development of the lithium-ion technology for the S 400 HYBRID. Advantages of the lithium-ion battery include its compact dimensions and much superior performance compared with nickel metal hydride batteries (NiMH). The energy density is 30 percent higher than with NiMH technology; the power density 50 percent higher by comparison. Furthermore, high recharge efficiency and a long service life make the technology even more compelling.

Intelligent drive system management for superb efficiency

Mercedes-Benz has further enhanced the operating strategy of the electric drive with fuel cells for the B‑Class F‑CELL. As the outside temperatre plummets, the electric motor receives its electrical energy during a cold start both from the lithium-ion battery and from the fuel cell system as it “powers up”. Battery power is sufficient as the outside temperature warms up; the fuel cell then comes on line later – depending on the power requirements. In drive mode, the energy management system constantly maintains the F‑CELL system in the optimum operating range. The lithium-ion battery dynamically smoothes out variations with regard to the electrical power required in the current driving situation.

Whenever the driver brakes or as soon as they take their foot off the accelerator, the electric motor converts kinetic energy into electrical energy, which is then stored in the battery, using a process known as recuperation. While manoeuvring or on short journeys, the electric drive motor uses battery power. If the battery capacity is not sufficient, the fuel cell automatically kicks in. In a bid to ensure optimum efficiency and customer benefits, the intelligent drive management system decides whether the electrical energy is used from the lithium-ion battery, the fuel cell, or a combination of the two systems.

Full everyday practicality thanks to sandwich floor

Four fully fledged seats and a boot capacity of 416 litres make the B‑Class F‑CELL fully suitable for day-to-day and family use. The F‑CELL concept has been realised on the basis of the unique sandwich floor architecture, which Mercedes-Benz introduced 10 years ago in order to integrate alternative drive systems with the first-generation A-Class, and which has been honed consistently since then. The key components for the electric drive with fuel cells are optimally protected in the vehicle underbody, thanks to a space-saving design that also promotes a low centre of gravity. Advantages of the design include:

• The generous interior space in the B‑Class is fully retained. As the entire fuel cell system is integrated into the spacious sandwich floor, no compromises are necessary with respect to passenger space, luggage capacity, or variability
• The drive technology built into the sandwich floor ensures a low centre of gravity and, consequently, extremely reliable, agile handling
• Crash safety meets the extremely high standards associated with Mercedes thanks to the sandwich concept and housing key drive components and the hydrogen tanks between the axles

The B‑Class F‑CELL offers consummate driving pleasure and full day-to-day suitability – without local emissions. The innovative electric car also has a great deal to offer when it comes to equipment and appointments, including the bonamite silver special paint finish and exclusive 10-spoke light-alloy wheels. In the interior, leather upholstery, heated seats, automatic climate control and the COMAND system, as well as other features, ensure a high level of comfort. The dynamic energy flow display in the COMAND system display keeps the driver constantly abreast of the battery charge status, operating mode of the fuel cell system, as well as providing information on nearby hydrogen filling stations.

Safety first: uncompromising safety standards

Mercedes-Benz applies the same high safety standards to the B‑Class F‑CELL as to any of its other series-production models. The starting point is the outstanding crash safety of the Mercedes-Benz B‑Class, which received the highest five-star rating in the European NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme). The integrated safety concept of the B‑Class F‑CELL takes the specific characteristics of the innovative drive system into account. The experience garnered over many years by Mercedes-Benz with the electric drive powered by fuel cells from the A-Class F‑CELL and the high-voltage technology involving the lithium-ion battery from the S 400 HYBRID went into honing the concept.

Mercedes engineers have tested the safety of the drive-specific components including the hydrogen tank in the B‑Class F‑CELL in more than 30 crash tests. The hydrogen tanks are installed in the sandwich floor and therefore well protected in the event of an impact. They hold the hydrogen which is pressurised to 700 bar and have been designed to withstand all conceivable loads.

In the event of a crash, safety valves close the hydrogen supply lines to the fuel cell and decouple the tanks from the other system components. Even after a serious accident, the hydrogen poses no risk whatsoever. If a fire leads to excessive heat, a temperature-controlled value vents the tank contents in a controlled manner.

The lithium-ion battery and high-voltage system in the B‑Class F‑CELL feature – based on the experience garnered with hybrid technology in the S 400 HYBRID –an extensive, seven-stage safety concept.

• All the wiring is colour-coded to avoid confusion, and marked with safety instructions. This prevents assembly errors in production, and makes the quality checks easier to carry out
• Comprehensive contact protection for the entire system by means of generous insulation and dedicated connectors
• The lithium-ion battery is accommodated in a high-strength steel housing. Further safety features: blow-off vent with a rupture disc and a separate cooling circuit. An internal electronic controller continuously monitors the safety requirements and immediately signals any malfunctions
• All high-voltage components are connected by an electric loop. In the event of a malfunction the high-voltage system is automatically switched off
• As soon as the ignition is switched to “Off”, or in the event of a possible malfunction, the high-voltage system is actively discharged
• During an accident, the high-voltage system is completely switched off within fractions of a second
• The system is continuously monitored for short circuits

The high level of safety means Mercedes-Benz fuel cell vehicles can use underground car parks, multi-storey car parks or tunnels with no restrictions whatsoever.

F‑CELL – paving the way for the mass-produced fuel cell

With the B-Class F-CELL, Mercedes-Benz has for the first time applied all development and production standards associated with series production to an electric vehicle with fuel cells. All F‑CELL components meet the familiar Mercedes-Benz high standards in terms of quality, reliability and service life, thus putting in place the ideal conditions for mass production of the fuel cell powered electric drive including battery to improve efficiency and reduce costs. From 2012, the company intends to fit its vehicles with lithium-ion batteries produced by its joint venture Deutsche Accumotive GmbH.

Modular system for tomorrow’s electric cars

Along the same strategy adopted for developing the hybrid, the Mercedes engineers have also developed a modular system for electric vehicles with batteries and fuel cells. This enables amongst others the same parts to be shared efficiently across all electric vehicles. All key components of electric vehicles are ideally suited to modularisation: from the electric motor and the transmission, the battery and high-voltage safety concept to the high-voltage wiring, and software modules. Specific components, such as stacks and hydrogen tanks, can be used as standard components for entirely different vehicles in the F‑CELL line-up. For instance, simply by varying the quantity as necessary: for example, the Mercedes-Benz fuel cell bus is powered by two passenger car systems of the same type that is also used in a B‑Class F‑CELL.

The close to series Concept BlueZERO is testimony to just how the company has implemented the modular concept with future electric vehicles featuring a battery and fuel cells. As with the B‑Class F‑CELL, the Concept BlueZERO also houses the key drive components in the sandwich floor in a crash-resistant configuration. Based on a single vehicle architecture, the variable concept paves the way for three variants with different drive system configurations, which can meet all customer requirements for sustainable mobility – also, and in particular as regards the key aspects of safety and range:

• The BlueZERO E-CELL with its pure battery-electric drive boasts a range of up to 200 kilometres
• The BlueZERO F‑CELL with fuel cell is also suitable for long-distance journeys thanks to its electric range of well over 400 kilometres
• The BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS with electric drive and additional combustion engine as a power generator (range extender) boasts a total range of up to 600 kilometres and can cover a distance of up to 100 kilometres using electric drive alone