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  • Mercedes-Benz Unveils Hydrogen-Powered B-Class F-CELL

    Mercedes-Benz Unveils Hydrogen-Powered B-Class F-CELL August 28th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran's avatar Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, August 28th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 1 Comment

    Mercedes-Benz Unveils Hydrogen-Powered B-Class F-CELL

    Many think the infrastructure for a hydrogen-powered car just isn’t there, and they’re mostly right. There have been a few advances in hydrogen production recently, but the distribution system is the weak point. Honda hasn’t let that deter the production of a hydrogen fueled car, and neither is Mercedes-Benz, which today is launching its first series-produced fuel cell car on the road: the new B-Class F-CELL.

    The environmentally friendly electric car has better performance than a 2.0-liter gasoline car and is fully suited for everyday driving, with the zero-emission drive system achieves the equivalent of 71 mpg of diesel. Production of the...

    Many think the infrastructure for a hydrogen-powered car just isn’t there, and they’re mostly right. There have been a few advances in hydrogen production recently, but the distribution system is the weak point. Honda hasn’t let that deter the production of a hydrogen fueled car, and neither is Mercedes-Benz, which today is launching its first series-produced fuel cell car on the road: the new B-Class F-CELL. The environmentally friendly electric car has better performance than a 2.0-liter gasoline car and is fully suited for everyday driving, with the zero-emission drive system achieves the equivalent of 71 mpg of diesel. Production of the B-Class F-CELL will commence in late 2009 with a small lot. The first of around 200 vehicles will be delivered to customers in Europe and the U.S. at the beginning of next year. The vehicle’s technological heart is a 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, and is good for a driving range of about 250 mi. Peak output from the electric motor stands at 136 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque, all of which is available from zero revs.  As in hybrids with combustion engines, the B-Class F-CELL also 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. Mercedes-Benz does acknowledge that 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, the automaker is cooperating with government authorities, energy utilities and oil companies in joint projects in places such as Hamburg, Stuttgart and California to help roll out hydrogen infrastructure. Read More

  • Toyota could have hydrogen fuel-cell car on the road by 2014

    Toyota could have hydrogen fuel-cell car on the road by 2014 May 12th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, May 12th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 1 Comment

    Toyota could have hydrogen fuel-cell car on the road by 2014 Honda's FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle has grabbed lots of headlines, as has BMW's combustion-powered Hydrogen7 and Mazda's rotary RE line of vehicles, including the RX-8. But Toyota is working on a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle too, and it could be on the streets by 2014.

    Well, the streets of California at least. The company had previously released plans to have a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle on the road by 2015, but that schedule has been bumped up a year to meet the incentives within California's Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate.

    “So much of what happens is directly related to the California ZEV mandates — they’re followed by... Honda's FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle has grabbed lots of headlines, as has BMW's combustion-powered Hydrogen7 and Mazda's rotary RE line of vehicles, including the RX-8. But Toyota is working on a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle too, and it could be on the streets by 2014. Well, the streets of California at least. The company had previously released plans to have a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle on the road by 2015, but that schedule has been bumped up a year to meet the incentives within California's Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate. “So much of what happens is directly related to the California ZEV mandates — they’re followed by at least 14 states, and they affect nearly half of the cars on the market in the United States. Phase IV of the mandates covers model years 2015 through 2017, so that means we could begin complying in late 2014," John Hanson, a Toyota spokesperson, told the New York Times. California's ZEV scheme has previously influenced Toyota and other carmakers, including General Motors, to introduce zero-emissions vehicles, including the RAV-4 EV and the much-discussed EV-1. This time around, the monetary benefits to California's program are such that it's now a valid business case for Toyota to build the hydrogen fuel-cell car. Read More

  • Mercedes Benz design students pen F-CELL Roadster design study

    Mercedes Benz design students pen F-CELL Roadster design study March 25th, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, March 25th, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 2 Comments

    Mercedes Benz design students pen F-CELL Roadster design study With its skinny, spoked open wheels and an open-air cabin, the Mercedes Benz F-CELL Roadster looks more like the cars of the turn of the 20th century than those of the 21st, but design students blended the two to illustrate a point. The combination of old and new symbolizes a rebirth of thinking about how to build and power cars.

    As the name suggests, the F-CELL Roadster is powered by a 1.2kW fuel-cell system. Using drive-by-wire technology and a joystick to control the action, the car is capable of up to 15mph (25km/h) and has an estimated range of up to 217mi (350km). Though the car is high-tech, it would likely be outpaced by its... With its skinny, spoked open wheels and an open-air cabin, the Mercedes Benz F-CELL Roadster looks more like the cars of the turn of the 20th century than those of the 21st, but design students blended the two to illustrate a point. The combination of old and new symbolizes a rebirth of thinking about how to build and power cars. As the name suggests, the F-CELL Roadster is powered by a 1.2kW fuel-cell system. Using drive-by-wire technology and a joystick to control the action, the car is capable of up to 15mph (25km/h) and has an estimated range of up to 217mi (350km). Though the car is high-tech, it would likely be outpaced by its horse-drawn and early combustion-engine brethren at a sprint. Aside from the historical design elements, however, the car is all high-tech, including a set of carbon-fiber bucket seats and a fiberglass front section based on the same componentry as Formula 1 race car bodies. Altogether, it took over 150 trainees and 'dual education system' students about a year to arrive at the final design of the radical F-CELL Roadster. Every element of the car - even though it's just a rendering - has been designed from the ground up, including automotive 'mechatronics', electronics, manufacturing mechanics and even the car's interior features. "I am delighted to see how much initiative and creativity the young people have put into this project," said Human Resources Board member and Labor Relations Manager Günther Fleig. There are no plans to produce the car, for obvious reasons, though the technology demonstration does hint at Mercedes' continued commitment to hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative to more conventionally accepted battery electric vehicles. For more on Mercedes' work with hydrogen fuel cells, check out the BlueZERO family of concepts here.Mercedes Benz F-CELL Roadster design study Read More

  • Mercedes Benz provides full details for BlueZERO concept family

    Mercedes Benz provides full details for BlueZERO concept family January 11th, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, January 11th, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 9 Comments

    Mercedes Benz provides full details for BlueZERO concept family Though most of the world associates green with environmentally-friendly technologies, Mercedes Benz and a few others use the color blue to denote their ecologically advanced vehicles and drivetrains. The latest development in the blue-themed line of Mercedes offerings is a trio of BlueZERO electric vehicle concepts being presented at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

    The concepts are called the E-Cell, F-Cell and E-Cell Plus, all of which offer slightly different takes on the electric vehicle concept but feature the same exterior design and overall 13.85ft (4.22m) length.

    The E-Cell uses a pure-ev design, with lithium-ion batteries and electric... Though most of the world associates green with environmentally-friendly technologies, Mercedes Benz and a few others use the color blue to denote their ecologically advanced vehicles and drivetrains. The latest development in the blue-themed line of Mercedes offerings is a trio of BlueZERO electric vehicle concepts being presented at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The concepts are called the E-Cell, F-Cell and E-Cell Plus, all of which offer slightly different takes on the electric vehicle concept but feature the same exterior design and overall 13.85ft (4.22m) length. The E-Cell uses a pure-ev design, with lithium-ion batteries and electric motors doing all of the work. The E-Cell Plus uses lithium-ion batteries and electric motors to drive the wheels, but also features a petrol-powered engine to charge the batteries for greater range between charges. Both the E-Cell and E-Cell Plus can store enough energy for a range of 30 miles within 30 minutes. Finally, the F-Cell uses hydrogen fuel cells to power the electric motors. Though the BlueZERO name might indicate to the casual observer that the trio is designed as a range of zero-emissions products, only the E-Cell and F-Cell will have zero tailpipe emissions - the E-Cell Plus, like any other plug-in hybrid, will emit standard exhaust when the charging engine is in operation, though at a very low rate of 32g/km CO2. To be fair, both the F-Cell and E-Cell will also involve carbon emissions in the creation of electricity or hydrogen used to power them. The E-Cell claims a 120mi (200km) range on a one-hour charge or 240mi (400km) on a two-hour charge, while the E-Cell Plus is reportedly good for a range of 370mi (600km) on a tank of fuel and a charge, or 60mi (100km) in electric-only mode, translating to a NEDC fuel consumption of 62 mpg (US 51mpg/4.6L/100km). The E-Cell Plus gets its gasoline-powered miles courtesy of the 67hp (50kW) three-cylinder turbo engine found in the Smart ForTwo. The F-Cell's hydrogen tank holds enough of the fuel for a range of 248mi (400km) from the car's 120hp (90kW) electric motor. Many steps have been taken to optimize the cars' aerodynamics and overall efficiency, including wheels that minimize wind resistance and tires that reduce rolling resistance. A closed front fascia also minimizes drag, much like that of Chevrolet's Volt plug-in hybrid. Other high-tech features include the lights at either end of the car. Combining cutting edge lens and LED bulb technologies, the car's lights feature a bright center with slightly diffused edges. Up front, daytime running lights are shaped into a 'C', while at the rear, the taillights form an 'L' shape. Extensive use of Lexan also offers a chance to make many surfaces translucent, such as the rear tailgate, which gives a clear view into the vehicle's interior. Though all three cars will share the same basic design, a range of three 'ALU-BEAM' metallic colors has been chosen to highlight their differences. The E-Cell, pictured, gets a 'fresh lime green' variant, while the F-Cell gets a mint green exterior and the E-Cell Plus will be colored bright orange. The design of the E-Cell concept (pictured) is thought to preview the features of the next A-Class and B-Class, and also draws on the design of the original 2005 Bionic car concept.Mercedes BlueZero ConceptsMercedes Benz BlueZERO concept Read More

  • Daimler teams with Evonik for lithium-ion batteries

    Daimler teams with Evonik for lithium-ion batteries December 16th, 2008 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, December 16th, 2008 Nelson Ireson 0 Comments

    Daimler teams with Evonik for lithium-ion batteries Three electric concepts headed to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show have captured much of Daimler subsidiary Mercedes' press of late, and the timing of the new Daimler-Evonik hints that the technology that underpins the cars could be headed for more than just the show floor.

    Mercedes' S400 BlueHybrid is headed to production soon as well, though thanks to its relatively mild-hybrid design and limited sales volume, it won't likely be enough on its own to support substantial production of lithium-ion batteries. A smaller class of hybrid and electric vehicles, like the E-Cell, F-Cell and E-Cell Plus, on the other hand, could provide that volume.

    ... Three electric concepts headed to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show have captured much of Daimler subsidiary Mercedes' press of late, and the timing of the new Daimler-Evonik hints that the technology that underpins the cars could be headed for more than just the show floor. Mercedes' S400 BlueHybrid is headed to production soon as well, though thanks to its relatively mild-hybrid design and limited sales volume, it won't likely be enough on its own to support substantial production of lithium-ion batteries. A smaller class of hybrid and electric vehicles, like the E-Cell, F-Cell and E-Cell Plus, on the other hand, could provide that volume. Nevertheless, the S400 hybrid is the first intended target for the new batteries. Evonik says its lithium batteries are uniquely well-suited to automotive applications thanks to their low weight and high durability. The projections that have justified the joint venture into the battery production field for Daimler see over 1 million electric vehicles being sold in Germany by 2020, with over $13 billion in battery sales, reports EE Times. Over 1,000 jobs will be created to fill the demand for battery production as well. Toyota, producer of the ubiquitous Prius hybrid, is already heavily involved in its own battery production, and other carmakers, such as Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan, are also delving into the field in preparation for their next-generation vehicles. Daimler has acquired 49.9% of Evonik to secure its own battery supply, but the duo is still seeking a third shareholder in the electronic systems integration. A secondary joint venture aimed directly at creating automotive applications will also be formed, with Daimler holding 90% and Evonik 10%. Read More

  • GM's Project Driveway fuel cell program rolls past 500,000 miles next week

    GM's Project Driveway fuel cell program rolls past 500,000 miles next week December 12th, 2008 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, December 12th, 2008 Ralph Hanson 0 Comments

    GM's Project Driveway fuel cell program rolls past 500,000 miles next week With all that's going on in Washington lately, the slow economy and a general apathy or even hostility toward the automotive industry, it's nice to see a technological bright spot on the horizon. While it's not a ground-breaking or earth-shattering development, General Motors' fuel cell test fleet breaking the 500,000mi (800,000km) mark demonstrates a certain maturity of the technology that reminds us that slow and steady progress can win the day.

    Hydrogen fuel cells are not the widely-regarded front runners for the next generation of vehicular power sources. There are any number of reasons for this, but the primary one is that the... With all that's going on in Washington lately, the slow economy and a general apathy or even hostility toward the automotive industry, it's nice to see a technological bright spot on the horizon. While it's not a ground-breaking or earth-shattering development, General Motors' fuel cell test fleet breaking the 500,000mi (800,000km) mark demonstrates a certain maturity of the technology that reminds us that slow and steady progress can win the day. Hydrogen fuel cells are not the widely-regarded front runners for the next generation of vehicular power sources. There are any number of reasons for this, but the primary one is that the distribution of hydrogen is inherently more costly and problematic than distribution of raw electricity. Nevertheless, GM is forging ahead with its Project Driveway experiment, developing not only the cars but also the infrastructure necessary to support the cars. In the early stages, filling a tank of hydrogen required 20 minutes or more, but that time has been cut to 6-7 minutes thanks to user feedback and technical advances. The user feedback itself is so far strong, according to GM. We at MotorAuthority, having driven a fuel cell Equinox, can agree that the driving experience is essentially indistinguishable from driving a standard vehicle, with the exception of the abnormally quiet ride. Some of the systems used in the Project Driveway vehicles overlap with current production vehicles, including regenerative braking systems, and data gathered during testing has helped to improve the Saturn Vue, Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon 2-mode hybrids as well. For more on the fuel-cell equinox or Project Driveway, check out our previous coverage. Read More

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