2010 Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL

The new fuel cell vehicle offers everything that people expect from a Mercedes-Benz : High comfort and safety as well as no reduction in interior space and boot capacity. Customers will not have to sacrifice any driving pleasure either, because the electric motor has a peak performance of 100 kW/136 hp and a maximum torque of 290 Nm, which is available from the first rotation. 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. Despite these qualities, the zero-emission fuel cell drive consumes the equivalent of only 3.3 litres of diesel fuel per 100 kilometres (NEDC). Thanks to its great range of about 400 kilometres and short refuelling times of around three minutes, the B-Class F-CELL ensures local zero-emission mobility even for long stretches.

‘2009 is the year in which we are establishing further milestones where sustainable mobility is concerned. The B-Class F-CELL is taking on a pioneering role as the world’s first fuel cell powered automobile to be produced under series production conditions’, says Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Development for Mercedes-Benz Cars.

With more than 100 test vehicles and a combined total of over 4.5 million kilometres of trial testing, Daimler and Mercedes-Benz have the most extensive experience with fuel cell vehicles of any manufacturer worldwide. The B-Class F-CELL is further testimony of this technology’s high level of development for automotive use. However, a comprehensive network of hydrogen filling stations still has to be set up before locally zero-emission driving can become a widespread reality. To make this possible, Daimler is cooperating with government authorities, energy utilities and oil companies in joint projects in places such as Hamburg, Stuttgart and California.

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Fuel Cell is now in limited production as a 2010 model for select world markets, and the cars are being marketed to customers in a special lease program which includes a 100% full support Mercedes-Benz servicing package. Areas that wish to take part in the program need to make their own infrastructure investment in hydrogen refuelling stations. Its a great investment opportunity for shrewd energy companies or local governments that wish to take the lead in this market and many are now getting involved with this new high growth technology.

We spoke with Dr. Christian Mohredeick, Director of Fuel Cell & Battery Drive Development for the Daimler Group who is also very involved in the Mercedes-Benz Citaro Fuel Cell Bus program. He said that Daimler is continually improving the fuel cell engine’s efficiency and manufacturing cost structure, and that they are absolutely confident that their R&D will deliver very successful results. In general, there is a huge demand expected throughout the world for hydrogen infrastructures as communities install zero emissions buses to carry the public and customers who require long range cars choose cars with the hydrogen fuel cell process.

The vehicle’s technological heart is the new generation of the compact, high-performance fuel cell system, in which gaseous hydrogen reacts with atmospheric oxygen at 700 bar to generate a current for the electric motor. The fuel cell system of the B‑Class F-CELL has a very good cold-start capability even at temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius. The drive system was completely newly developed versus the F-CELL A-Class presented in 2004, with Mercedes-Benz engineers achieving considerable improvements in output, torque, operating range, reliability, starting characteristics and comfort. The B-Class F-CELL now offers driving pleasure and day-to-day suitability at Mercedes level – without local emissions.

As in hybrids with combustion engines, the fuel-cell car uses a lithium-ion battery with an output of 35 kW and a capacity of 1.4 kWh to boost power and recover braking energy. Lithium-ion technology offers several advantages over conventional batteries, including compact dimensions, high performance, great recharge efficiency and a long service life.

The B‑Class F-CELL employs the unique sandwich floor architecture that is well-known from the A- and B-Class. The advantage of this design is that the drive components are located in the sandwich floor, where they are protected and don’t take up much space so that the vehicle’s interior remains fully usable and a boot capacity of 416 litres is available.

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