The way some of us will be driving in 2020 – maybe. With the 100 prototype fuel cells and 2.8 million test miles, Mercedes is now nearly completed placing the fuel cell drivetrain into the class B-200, with the intention of completing a few more years real world testing with real world drivers. This Mercedes-Benz B-class F-Cell is as close to production cars as fuel-cell powered any existing prototype. That’s because the company has a big advantage of the A / B-class ’sandwich’ platform, which was first launched in 1998.
Between the two floors there are significant gaps, which took three cylindrical hydrogen tanks, fuel cell stack and a small lithium ion battery. Electric motor driving the front wheels are mounted on the car’s nose.
Since the first A-class-based prototype appeared in 1999, Mercedes has managed to shrink a large scale fuel cell size, and increase power output by 30 percent and reduces the hydrogen consumption by 30 percent others.
Fuel cell stacks can now also operating at 25deg C below freezing and will start immediately at-15deg. The operation proved the development of cold weather barrier.
Hydrogen is pumped into the tank car carbonfibre three wounded in the tank 700bar and each holding just under 4 kg of fuel. Mercedes claims a range of 250 miles on this day at a cost of £ 32. The ability to mount this tank under the floor B-class is a boon for the safety of the accident.
While fuel cells generate bills for electric motor drive, there are also 35kWh lithium ion battery mounted under the trunk floor. This is used to store energy from brake regeneration and for ‘cold start’, while fuel cells would come up to operating temperature. The battery can also be used to turn the car on short trips and when maneuvering at low speeds.
How does it feel?
It’s almost impossible to say that the car other than the stock model. The interior has not changed, there is no loss of boot space the exterior and the only clue is the interface special refueling hidden behind the filler flap.
In terms of ride and handling, B-class F-Cell was very like other conventional cars. That is, a bit dated. Suffers from a pretty stiff-legged ride, crash on the poor surface a little too often and quite a lot to give voice to the cabin while doing it.
However, electric motors offer fast enough progress and, on good roads, lack of mechanical action is very visible Underfloor absence.
The combination of torque and a single transmission ratio means the acceleration is really smooth. At higher speeds the car gives a rather strange sensation, a kind of progress is very low friction, which may be best described as a ’sliding’. The brakes, however, need to become stronger and more progressive.
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS Estate