Benz stays at forefront of F-CELL zero emission
April 26, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LAST week, to coincide with the opening of Auto Shanghai 2011, the Mercedes-Benz F-CELL World Drive arrived in China on the Asia leg of its unprecedented round-the-world tour, part of the company's 125-year anniversary celebrations as inventor of the automobile.
Having set off from Stuttgart on January 30, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL cars are on a 125-day journey through 14 countries on four continents, covering 30,000 kilometers, to demonstrate the technical maturity and day-to-day suitability of fuel cell-powered electric cars. It also aims to draw attention to the need for a widespread hydrogen infrastructure.
Upon arrival in Shanghai, the F-CELL World Drive had reached just over its halfway point, having already travelled 16,000 emission-free kilometers through Europe, North America and Australia.
"Shanghai is the first stop of the journey in China," said Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for group research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. "The technology has been proven much matured and now it is ready for market and for use in everyday applications."
The B-Class F-CELL is modeled on the interior and exterior design of the B-Class car. The 100 kW/136 hp electric motor in the car develops torque of 290 Nm, with a top speed of over 160 km/h, offering the same driving dynamics as a 2.0 liter petrol car.
With the main drive components and hydrogen tank being safely accommodated between the axles, the B-Class F-CELL's compact and efficient fuel cell components not only save space, but also achieve a long range of 400 kilometers. Moreover, refueling takes only 3 minutes.
"Our fuel cell vehicle offers everything you would expect of a modern motor car: complete suitability for everyday use, comfort and above all a great deal of driving pleasure, and fuel cell technology is ready for long distances use" according to Dr Claus Ehlers, Director Society, Vehicle Concepts and Human Factors of Daimler.
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL not only represents the innovative strength of Mercedes-Benz, deeply rooted in the brand's DNA, but also demonstrated the car maker's vision on the hydrogen-power fuel cell drive.
Weber said the hydrogen-powered fuel cell drive is one of the most promising zero emission drive concepts for basically every car, every customer all over the world.
"Hydrogen can be produced from renewable resources and can actually become the key to storing the wind's and sun's energy," he told reporters.
"So I think by now, it's hard to find a good reason not to promote a hydrogen economy. We do - and we are willing to bring our innovative fuel cell technology to China," he said.
Though fuel cell vehicles are steps closer to consumers' daily life, the corresponding infrastructure to enable the comprehensive use of fuel cell vehicles is still lacking
Admittedly although initial activities have already started, including the "H2Mobility" initiative which Daimler has been jointly involved in establishing, the hydrogen infrastructure only develops little-by-little, according to Ehlers.
"Therefore, with the F-CELL World Drive, we also appeal to all parties involved, to consequently push this subject forward," he added.
Weber hopes that the world-drive will also open the way for Daimler to communicate with the Chinese government to seek initial cooperation on the infrastructure.
According to Daimler's plan, the first customers in Germany and the USA/California are already enjoying the completely new driving feeling. By 2012, some 200 fuel cell vehicles will be in use on the roads of the United States, Germany and Norway.
"Our vehicles will finally be ready for commercialization in 2015," Weber said, full of confidence.
Having set off from Stuttgart on January 30, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL cars are on a 125-day journey through 14 countries on four continents, covering 30,000 kilometers, to demonstrate the technical maturity and day-to-day suitability of fuel cell-powered electric cars. It also aims to draw attention to the need for a widespread hydrogen infrastructure.
Upon arrival in Shanghai, the F-CELL World Drive had reached just over its halfway point, having already travelled 16,000 emission-free kilometers through Europe, North America and Australia.
"Shanghai is the first stop of the journey in China," said Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for group research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. "The technology has been proven much matured and now it is ready for market and for use in everyday applications."
The B-Class F-CELL is modeled on the interior and exterior design of the B-Class car. The 100 kW/136 hp electric motor in the car develops torque of 290 Nm, with a top speed of over 160 km/h, offering the same driving dynamics as a 2.0 liter petrol car.
With the main drive components and hydrogen tank being safely accommodated between the axles, the B-Class F-CELL's compact and efficient fuel cell components not only save space, but also achieve a long range of 400 kilometers. Moreover, refueling takes only 3 minutes.
"Our fuel cell vehicle offers everything you would expect of a modern motor car: complete suitability for everyday use, comfort and above all a great deal of driving pleasure, and fuel cell technology is ready for long distances use" according to Dr Claus Ehlers, Director Society, Vehicle Concepts and Human Factors of Daimler.
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL not only represents the innovative strength of Mercedes-Benz, deeply rooted in the brand's DNA, but also demonstrated the car maker's vision on the hydrogen-power fuel cell drive.
Weber said the hydrogen-powered fuel cell drive is one of the most promising zero emission drive concepts for basically every car, every customer all over the world.
"Hydrogen can be produced from renewable resources and can actually become the key to storing the wind's and sun's energy," he told reporters.
"So I think by now, it's hard to find a good reason not to promote a hydrogen economy. We do - and we are willing to bring our innovative fuel cell technology to China," he said.
Though fuel cell vehicles are steps closer to consumers' daily life, the corresponding infrastructure to enable the comprehensive use of fuel cell vehicles is still lacking
Admittedly although initial activities have already started, including the "H2Mobility" initiative which Daimler has been jointly involved in establishing, the hydrogen infrastructure only develops little-by-little, according to Ehlers.
"Therefore, with the F-CELL World Drive, we also appeal to all parties involved, to consequently push this subject forward," he added.
Weber hopes that the world-drive will also open the way for Daimler to communicate with the Chinese government to seek initial cooperation on the infrastructure.
According to Daimler's plan, the first customers in Germany and the USA/California are already enjoying the completely new driving feeling. By 2012, some 200 fuel cell vehicles will be in use on the roads of the United States, Germany and Norway.
"Our vehicles will finally be ready for commercialization in 2015," Weber said, full of confidence.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
