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Mercedes B-Class F-Cell

Meet the best hydrogen-powered car yet

Mercedes B-Class F-Cell front track

By Jack Rix

November 2010

This zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell-powered B-Class is 
set to shape Mercedes’s future range. And we’ve driven it!

Later this year, a select group of 70 customers in California will take delivery as part of a two-year trial. An A-Class F-Cell underwent consumer testing between 2004 and 2007, and this car builds on everything that Mercedes learned. 

The fuel cell is 40 per cent smaller, but 30 per cent more powerful, producing a total of 134bhp and a healthy 290Nm of torque – roughly the equivalent of a conventional 2.0-litre petrol.

The power the fuel cell 
generates provides electricity 
to the batteries which, in turn, drive an electric motor connected to the front wheels. Thanks to clever packaging, the lithium-ion batteries and three high-pressure hydrogen tanks are tucked away underneath the floorpan. This means that in terms of passenger and boot space, the car is as 
practical as any other B-Class. 
But does it drive like one?

Slot the shifter into ‘D’ and squeeze the throttle, and it glides along with only a faint whine from the electric motor. With all 290Nm available from a standstill, it accelerates briskly, and there’s enough power to overtake with confidence on the motorway. 

Mercedes has tackled the 
main criticism of the A-Class F-Cell by doubling the range 
to 270 miles – as long as you 
use a light right foot. Filling the tanks takes only three minutes from one of the five hydrogen 
stations in California – a clear benefit over full-electric cars, which need an overnight charge.

For an alternative review of the latest Mercedes-Benz B-Class visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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1 Comment

There are a few major problems with Hydrogen cars as far as I see it.

1) It takes much more energy than you get out, in making hydrogen. It's much more efficient to use that extra energy to recharge batteries!

2) I have no doubt that it will cost much more to travel the same distance on hydrogen than electricity!

3) Fuel cell cars are Insanely expensive.

If they can make ev's and fuel cell cars at a similar price to ICE cars they might be on to a winner, but I don't think we will see fuel cell cars on the road any time soon.

Electric cars are definitely the way forward for now. Fuel cell cars will have one major advantage of quick refuelling. If they can provide the hydrogen at similar prices to electricity then I have no problem with hydrogen. But I can see big companies charging similar prices to petrol and diesel, and of course governments will charge tax on it, that's why I'm a big believer in Battery cars. And people will have the opportunity to use their renewable systems to charge their cars too!

I think the most suitable use of hydrogen would be for commercial use, commercial vehicles have not improved in emissions or fuel consumption nearly as much as cars. But I can see a definite marked for hydrogen for bus companies etc. Once they make the hydrogen from renewable sources that is!

By Mad_Lad on 5 December, 2010, 7:22pm

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Pictures

Mercedes B-Class F-Cell front track
Mercedes B-Class F-Cell interior
Mercedes B-Class F-Cell pam
Mercedes B-Class F-Cell BADGE
Mercedes B-Class F-Cell

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FIRST OPINION

    This car proves that fuel-cell technology is ready for production. Smooth, fast and impressively quick to fill up, the B-Class F-Cell dispels the myth that zero-emissions cars are compromised. The only problems are the lack of a hydrogen filling station network and the cost. But Mercedes is confident it will have a fuel cell vehicle on sale by 2015, by which time California alone will have 40 filling stations and the technology will be affordable enough for current B-Class buyers.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £25,000 (est)
    Engine: Fuel cell and electric motor, lithium-ion batteries
    Transmission: Single speed, front-wheel drive
    Power: 134bhp
    Torque: 290Nm
    Top speed: 106mph
    Economy: 85.6mpg 
    CO2: 0g/km
    Range: 270 miles
    On sale: 2015
     
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