2010 Mercedes-Benz B-Class with fuel-cell drive

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class with fuel-cell drive has successfully completed 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 activities was subjected to thorough scrutiny. Even though 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 elements 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 conditions 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.”

The first series Mercedes will be launching 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 maximized 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 shows a good cold start capability, thanks to innovations such as the electric turbocharger for air supply, and the new humidification and demisting system.

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