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Mercedes Unveils Industry's First Hybrid Fuel Cell Vehicle
Daimler AG says its upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell fuel cell vehicle will include a plugin hybrid system to extend driving range.
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Daimler AG says its upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell fuel cell vehicle will include a plugin hybrid system to extend driving range.
The industry-first design teams a fuel cell module with a 13.8-kWh lithium-ion battery. The combination provides a total driving range of 270 miles based on the European driving cycle, including 30 miles in all-electric mode.
Mercedes unveiled a pre-production version of GLC F-Cell this week at the Frankfurt auto show. The carmaker plans to test the vehicle in European rental fleets through next year and launch commercial sales in 2019.
Drivers can choose between four operating modes: Hybrid, F-Cell, Battery and Charge. The Hybrid setting draws power from both the fuel cell and battery, while F-Cell and Battery primarily use the fuel cell or battery, respectively. In Charge mode, the fuel cell and regenerative braking are optimized to recharge the battery.
The fuel cell stack is packaged in the engine compartment, while the battery is placed underneath the trunk. A pair of carbon fiber fuel tanks—one housed within the center transmission tunnel and the other under the rear seats—can store a combined 9.7 lbs of hydrogen.
Mercedes says the tanks can be refilled in three minutes, which is about the same time it takes to refuel a gasoline or diesel vehicle. The lithium-ion battery can be recharged in about 1.5 hours from a 7.2-kW on-board charger.
The electric motor generates 197 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes says the fuel cell system used 90% less platinum and is about 30% smaller than the one used in the company’s previous B-Cell prototype fuel cell vehicles.
The fuel cell stacks were developed in Vancouver, Canada, as part of Daimler's joint venture with Ford Motor Co. Daimler’s NuCellSys and Accumotive subsidaries developed the hydrogen tanks and battery pack, respectively.
Other than unique badging and a few styling tweaks, the F-Cell’s exterior is nearly identical to the base GLC. The interior boasts a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a multifunction touchpad that recognizes numerous handwriting styles.
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