What is it?
Despite its rather ordinary looks, the Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell is actually a fairly significant thing indeed. You see, instead of having a traditional petrol or diesel combustion engine under the bonnet, the F-Cell belongs to that rarified set of electrified vehicles that utilises hydrogen fuel cell technology to get it from A to B.
Where fuel cells are often rather large, awkward things to make fit within the confines of a car’s dimensions without compromising practicality too much, Mercedes' newly developed one is so compact that it can fit within the limits of the GLC’s engine bay, and it's installed on the same mounting points that a conventional engine would use. Meanwhile, two carbonfibre-encased tanks that together hold up to 4.4kg of compressed liquid hydrogen are housed beneath the floor.
Now, here’s where it all gets rather complicated. That liquid hydrogen is used to power the fuel cell, which in turn acts as a generator of sorts for an electric motor. There’s an additional 13.5kWh battery pack on board, too, which can also be called upon to power the motor. When this battery is at full charge and the tanks are topped up with hydrogen, Mercedes claims the F-Cell will offer a range just shy of 300 miles.
While that’s still some way short of what you'd expect from a petrol or diesel car, it’s comparable with the ranges offered by the more high-end battery-electric vehicles such as the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model S. And while those cars can take hours to recharge from a conventional home wall box, the F-Cell’s hydrogen fuel tanks, which contribute to the lion’s share of its range, can be topped up in as little as three minutes.
Join the debate
Merod
Charging times?
“Without the drawback of lengthy charging times?” Hang on, we’re in line for 15min charging times (to 85% blah, blah) on pure EV cars within 5 years. So MB have invested in technology for the transition period between now and then?
Peter Cavellini
You never know....
. Yes, it might interim, but, it fill like a Car of today, takes maybe five minutes or so, no harmful emissions just water , ok, the eco mentalist will say ultimately it’s traceable back to the Well but, you’d drive like it is now, not like the Journey they undertook in this Mag, 328miles In 13 hours, how much quicker is it using Fossil fuels? or indeed using Hydrogen?, it’s about half that time,and yes, there is a Battery onboard, but it only takes 1hr30mins, no, when they can make an EV go 1000miles (might as well aim high) and charge in 30 minutes, then I’ll be interested....
Peter Cavellini.
xxxx
Goal post movement detected
Hold on last week it was 500 miles
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
Peter Cavellini
Been saying this how long?
Even if Hydrogen was used as a stop gap till EV range and charge times lowered to acceptable levels would be good, I still think Hydrogen is a win win....
Peter Cavellini.
Gfos
apples and pears
"And while those cars can take hours to recharge from a conventional home wall box, the F-Cell’s hydrogen fuel tanks, which contribute to the lion’s share of its range, can be topped up in as little as three minutes."
Why on earth are you comparing home charging times??? I don't think many people have a home hydrogen supply (or petrol/diesel for that matter)!!! The comparison is rapid charger times, and home charging is an EXTRA benefit for EVs....
xxxx
Hydrogen car
Dumb idea that most manufacturers have given up on. BEVs rule end of!
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
jason_recliner
xxxx wrote:
Yep. You know when Daimler Benz, Toyota and Hyundai invest billions to take the lead in providing the energy solution of the future, it's just GOTTA be a dumb idea!
xxxx
opposite site of coin
Makes you wonder why Ford, GM, BMW, Renault, PSA, Jaguar, Tesla, Volvo, Mazda, Porsche, VAG, Mclaren, Suzuki, Fiat- Chrysler put next to no money in it compared to BEV R and D.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
jason_recliner
xxxx wrote:
No, it doesn't.
Herald
Why does it have to be one or the other?
What's wrong with having the infrastructre for both? For all the advancements forecast in battery recharging times I still can't see how a 100% BEV future works. Take my local supermarket filling stations for example: they are absolutely clogged up with customers, queues spilling out into the car parks. To recharge a battery, even for 15 minutes, for a similar volume of traffic, would require acres of charging points - impractical. Yes, I know volume should reduce, because some will recharge at home, but this option will nt be available to everyone, and then there are the stops required on busy long-distance routes to consider too, not to mention how the national grid will cope. I foresee a mixed landscape, and this would work. Some big companies are spending considerable sums on developing fuel-cell tech: I doubt they are into wasting their time careering down blind alleys, and with respect, carry a little more clout than @xxxx. BEV and Hydrogen together - way to go.
Wide cars in a world of narrow.
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