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Mercedes-Benz attempts to make an invisible car

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:39:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, Videos, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Electric

Automakers are engaged in a constant struggle to get their products noticed. From clever advertising to sneaky movie deals and wild stunts, putting a vehicle in front of the public is the first step toward wrangling better sales figures. Mercedes-Benz recently took a different approach for the upcoming hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the F-Cell. While the company rolled out a special version of the car in front of the public, it did its best to hide the hatchback behind a veil of special LED matting. The LEDs were paired to a Canon 5D Mark II on the other side of the car, which supplied video.

As a result, the LEDs project an image of what's on the other side of the vehicle, making the F-Cell effectively invisible. Why hide a new car behind a curtain of techno wizardry? Mercedes-Benz wants to underscore the fact that the F-Cell is a zero-emission vehicle, making it practically invisible in terms of pollution. We see what you did there, Mercedes-Benz. Check out the video for yourself below.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz attempts to make an invisible car

Mercedes-Benz attempts to make an invisible car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive successfully completed

Zach Bowman — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Electric

Mercedes-Benz F-Cell - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz has just wrapped up its world tour with the company's F-Cell fuel-cell vehicle. The trio of hydrogen-powered futuristic hatches wandered the entire circumference of the globe and racked up around 18,641 miles each in the process. The whole shebang wrapped up in front of the Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart - the exact location where the vehicles began their journey back in January.

The German automaker hopes that the drive will prove that fuel-cell vehicles are a viable alternative to traditional EVs and internal combustion vehicles and that lawmakers and businesses will respond by ramping up the infrastructure necessary to easily operate a fuel-cell auto.

The trip took 70 days and in many instances, the B-Class F-Cell vehicles had to rely on a mobile filling station for their hydrogen needs. Mercedes-Benz says that when fueling stations were available, it took as little as a few minutes to top off the onboard tanks. Hit the jump to check out the full press release, and if you're looking for some insight into what it's like to live with the fuel-cell car, check out our piece on the F-Cell.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive successfully completed

Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive successfully completed originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We catch up with the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive in the States

Michael Harley — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Electric

Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World drive recently rolled into Hollywood, California, a full 5,651 miles from where we last parted ways with the round-the-world hydrogen-promoting caravan. After we left the driver's seat in Paris, the group finished up their Western Europe route in Portugal. The three hydrogen-powered vehicles (and their support contingent) were then airlifted from Lisbon to Miami aboard a 747 cargo jet. Wheels firmly on U.S. soil, the convoy crossed the country with stops in New Orleans, San Antonio and Phoenix before arriving in Southern California. After a brief stay, they will head north to Vancouver before a second overseas flight to Sydney to start another cross-continent jaunt.

While checking out the car, still riding on snow tires even though temps were in the mid-70s, we were fortunate enough to meet Vance Van Petten, the Executive Director of the Producers Guild of America. He happens to be the owner of the first first F-Cell to be delivered to a customer in the United States (technically, the vehicle is acquired on a a special F-Cell lease program).

Van Petten was kind enough to give us some insight as to what it has been like living with a hydrogen vehicle for the past several months. Long story short, the F-Cell's three high-pressure hydrogen gas cylinders (holding about 8.2 pounds of fuel) are good for about 150 "real world" miles between fill-ups in the Los Angeles basin, says Van Petten. While that operation circle isn't bad (especially compared to the pure-EV offerings), consumers will likely demand at least 250 miles between fuel stops if the technology is to replace combustion engines. Van Petten says his F-Cell (thankfully painted silver, not fluorescent green like the World Drive models) has been fun to drive and perfectly reliable. It also gets more than its share of attention - he spends a lot of time explaining the difference between his F-Cell's fuel cell technology and hydrogen vehicles that consume liquid hydrogen via combustion (like the BMW Hydrogen 7).

Check our our high-res image gallery below... after all, with so few of these cars roaming the roads of the world, you're not likely to see one live and in the flesh on a roadway near you.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive in the States

We catch up with the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive in the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: Mercedes-Benz F-Cell rids the show floor of tailpipe emissions

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Electric

Mercedes-Benz F-Cell - Click above for high-res image gallery

As promised, Mercedes-Benz trotted its hydrogen fuel cell-powered F-Cell in front of the crowds at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and we were on hand to snap off a series of images. It's easy to spot the B-Class sheetmetal and underpinnings of the compact hatch, which goes to show how well the German automaker was able to integrate its space-age hydrogen drivetrain.

A 100 kW electric motor provides motive force to the front wheels, and MB claims the F-Cell will have similar performance to a 2.0 liter gas engine while returning the equivalent of 86.6 mpg on the European combined cycle. Mercedes has promised to begin leasing its new hydrogen-powered five-door hatchback in early 2010, and it's reportedly coming to America to fulfill all our zero-emission fantasies. Now, if we could just get that pesky hydrogen infrastructure problem sorted out...

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Mercedes-Benz F-Cell

Frankfurt 2009: Mercedes-Benz F-Cell rids the show floor of tailpipe emissions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz launches B-Class F-Cell, leases to begin in early 2010

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Electric

Mercedes-Benz F-Cell - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in April, Mercedes-Benz announced its plans to begin small-scale series production of a new hydrogen fuel cell-powered automobile called the F-Cell. According to the German automaker, the car is nearly ready to launch, with 200 vehicles slated to be leased throughout the United States and Europe early next year.

The front-wheel drive F-Cell is based on Mercedes-Benz' B-Class platform and uses a 100 kW electric motor that puts out an impressive 214 lb-ft of torque. M-B claims this powertrain will offer comparable performance to a 2.0-liter gas-powered automobile (the run to 60 will take under 11 seconds) while returning the equivalent of 86.6 mpg on the European combined cycle.

Sandwiched under the car's floor will be a 1.4 kWh lithium ion battery that recaptures energy normally lost to braking. We'd also figure that battery pack will provide an even flow of electrons to the motor while the fuel cell hums away silently. Range is quoted at around 250 miles and Mercedes claims a hydrogen recharge time of just three minutes. Expect more details on the car to emerge at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. Full press release after the break.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz F-Cell

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz launches B-Class F-Cell, leases to begin in early 2010

Mercedes-Benz launches B-Class F-Cell, leases to begin in early 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Details: Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZERO trio

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Green, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for a gallery of the Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZero

Mercedes-Benz has unleashed a ton of information (the laughably long press release can be found after the break) on its new Concept BlueZERO threesome, which will debut next month at the Detroit Auto Show. The lime green E-CELL electric model features a range of 120 miles via its on-board lithium ion battery pack. If that's not enough, an extended-range model is available that carries a three-cylinder engine that's cribbed from the smart fortwo and allows for a range of 370 miles on a single charge and one tank of gas. The last version is called the BlueZERO F-CELL and features a fuel cell that will allow for a range of up to 248 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. All three use the same 100kW electric motor and can reach 60 mph in 11 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 93 mph.

Each of these three models is built atop Daimler's unique sandwich architecture that first debuted on the A-Class in 1997. This arrangement allows the entire drivetrain to sit beneath the passenger compartment and allows each of these concept cars to keep their full allotment of 17.6 cubic feet (500 liters) of cargo space and seating for five. A striking exterior, featuring a grille-less face and translucent bodywork, is designed to draw attention to the unique structure and green credentials. We'll see it all for ourselves when we bring you the goods live from Detroit.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZero Tease

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Official Details: Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZERO trio

Official Details: Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZERO trio originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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