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One of the most ambitious hydrogen fuel and infrastructure studies has finished after a 30 000km ride and drive evaluation.
Mercedes-Benz’s F-CELL world drive started at the end of January 2011, to test hydrogen’s viability as a car fuel.
After covering 30 000km, travelling through 14 countries on four continents, Mercedes-Benz engineers reported that breakages were few and that despite challenging conditions (in China and Australia) the hydrogen-powered B-Class cars proved robust and reliable.
GOOD FUEL, BUT SCARCE...
The greatest challenge engineers and logistical personnel had to overcome was the chronic lack of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure.
There are only 200 hydrogen fuel stations globally (for Germany alone, Mercedes calculates it would need 1000 stations for proper customer coverage) so to counter the issue of refuelling hydrogen fuel and storage specialist, Linde, was contracted to assist.
In terms of configuration the F-CELL B-Class features a compact fuel-cell stack, three 700-bar pressurised hydrogen tanks (with a capacity of 4kg each) and a lithium-ion battery pack rated at 1.4 kWh. The hydrogen and electric powertrain components are compact in nature, and mounted in the B-Class floor so luggage capacity is undiminished at 416-litres.
An electric motor producing 290Nm of torque gives two-litre internal combustion engine dynamics combined with fuel consumption equivalent to about 3.3-litres/100km.
During the 30 000km world drive the best range posted by an F-CELL was 648km, with average consumption equating to 400km – a fully usable consumer range, especially considering that refuelling can be completed in less than two minutes.
Hydrogen detractors point to its volatile nature and question the safety in a collision. Mercedes says the tanks are hermetically sealed and have shut-off valves on all their fuel lines so are certified to be used in underground car parks, multi-storey car parks or tunnels with no restrictions.
"With the F-CELL World Drive we have shown a the time for F-CELL electric vehicles has come. Now the development of the infrastructure has to pick up speed," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Mercedes-Benz boss. "But only an adequate number of hydrogen fuelling stations will enable drivers to benefit from the advantages of this technology along with high range, short refuelling times, zero emissions." The end-user and technology are there, but will governments buy into the concept of subsidising infrastructure?
Mercedes-Benz’s F-CELL world drive started at the end of January 2011, to test hydrogen’s viability as a car fuel.
After covering 30 000km, travelling through 14 countries on four continents, Mercedes-Benz engineers reported that breakages were few and that despite challenging conditions (in China and Australia) the hydrogen-powered B-Class cars proved robust and reliable.
GOOD FUEL, BUT SCARCE...
The greatest challenge engineers and logistical personnel had to overcome was the chronic lack of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure.
There are only 200 hydrogen fuel stations globally (for Germany alone, Mercedes calculates it would need 1000 stations for proper customer coverage) so to counter the issue of refuelling hydrogen fuel and storage specialist, Linde, was contracted to assist.
In terms of configuration the F-CELL B-Class features a compact fuel-cell stack, three 700-bar pressurised hydrogen tanks (with a capacity of 4kg each) and a lithium-ion battery pack rated at 1.4 kWh. The hydrogen and electric powertrain components are compact in nature, and mounted in the B-Class floor so luggage capacity is undiminished at 416-litres.
An electric motor producing 290Nm of torque gives two-litre internal combustion engine dynamics combined with fuel consumption equivalent to about 3.3-litres/100km.
During the 30 000km world drive the best range posted by an F-CELL was 648km, with average consumption equating to 400km – a fully usable consumer range, especially considering that refuelling can be completed in less than two minutes.
Hydrogen detractors point to its volatile nature and question the safety in a collision. Mercedes says the tanks are hermetically sealed and have shut-off valves on all their fuel lines so are certified to be used in underground car parks, multi-storey car parks or tunnels with no restrictions.
"With the F-CELL World Drive we have shown a the time for F-CELL electric vehicles has come. Now the development of the infrastructure has to pick up speed," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Mercedes-Benz boss. "But only an adequate number of hydrogen fuelling stations will enable drivers to benefit from the advantages of this technology along with high range, short refuelling times, zero emissions." The end-user and technology are there, but will governments buy into the concept of subsidising infrastructure?
