Mercedes has successfully completed winter testing for the upcoming
2010 Mercedes-Benz B-Class with fuel-cell drive in northern Sweden.
“The results of the winter tests proved that we are on the right
track with this innovative drive concept and have taken another
important step on the road to reaching production standard,” said Dr.
Thomas Weber, Daimler AG board member with responsibility for r&d.
“As with the standard test programmes for conventional vehicles, we
will be subjecting the B-Class F-CELL to further rigorous testing over
the next few months.”
Mercedes will launch its first series vehicle with zero-emission
fuel-cell drive in the summer of 2010. Power comes from a new
generation of fuel-cell drive mated to an electric motor that produces
136-hp and a maximum torque of 236 lb-ft. Along with zero-emission
fuel-cell drive, the B-Class F-CELL gets an outstanding
fuel-consumption of 81mpg.
Click through for more images and the press release.
2010 B-Class F-Cell Winter Testing:
Press Release:
B-Class with fuel-cell drive proves its worth during winter testing in Sweden
- Comprehensive low-temperature tests under the toughest conditions
- Another milestone on the road to production standard
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class with fuel-cell drive has passed its winter
testing in northern Sweden with flying colours. At double-digit,
below-zero temperatures, the zero-emission drive showed what it could
do in the comprehensive test programmes. For example, cold start
behaviour was subjected to thorough scrutiny. Although Daimler Research
had already found a technical solution to the fuel cell’s start
capability at -25 degrees Celsius, the engineers’ focus here was on the
interaction between the different components under real-life winter
conditions. A further focus of the winter tests was on roadholding.
This meant adapting the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to the
special requirements of a fuel-cell vehicle. A special feature in this
context is that an electric motor exhibits different speed governing
behaviour to that of standard combustion engines.
Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler AG board member with responsibility for
Research and Development at Mercedes Benz Cars, drew positive
conclusions from the testing: “The results of the winter tests proved
that we are on the right track with this innovative drive concept and
have taken another important step on the road to reaching production
standard. As with the standard test programmes for conventional
vehicles, we will be subjecting the B-Class F-CELL to further rigorous
testing over the next few months.”
First small series from 2010
Mercedes will be launching the first series vehicle with a local,
zero-emission fuel-cell drive in the summer of 2010. Small-series
production of the B-Class F-CELL will commence in early 2010. A new
generation of fuel-cell drive will be used to power this innovative
vehicle. It is much more compact, while at the same time offering
greater performance and is completely suitable for everyday use.
The optimised fuel-cell system that Mercedes-Benz presented in 2005
in the F 600 HYGENIUS research vehicle forms the technical basis. This
extremely compact fuel-cell system operates much more efficiently than
previous generations. The newly designed “stack”, the fuel cell module,
is roughly 40 percent smaller, yet generates 30 percent greater power,
along with a 16 percent reduction in consumption compared to the F-Cell
A-Class. The system also demonstrates a good cold start capability,
thanks to innovations such as the electric turbocharger for air supply,
and the new humidification and demisting system.
Compared to the F-Cell A-Class, a refined, more compact, yet more
efficient system is used in the F-CELL B-Class. The electric motor
develops maximum output of 100 kW/136 hp and a maximum torque of 320
newton metres. This means that the B-Class F-CELL offers extremely high
roadholding standards that surpass those of a standard two-litre petrol
engine. At the same time, the zero-emission fuel-cell drive in this
family-friendly-design compact vehicle uses the equivalent of just 2.9
litres of fuel (diesel equivalent) per 100 kilometres – and all that
with zero-emission.
Daimler AG’s fuel-cell fleet has now covered around 3.8 million
zero-emission kilometres, giving the company more data, expertise and
experience than any other manufacturer. With approximately 100
vehicles, it operates the largest fuel-cell vehicle fleet in the world.
Its concept vehicles, passenger cars, vans and Citaro city buses are
tested by customers under everyday conditions.
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