“World’s first plug-in fuel cell” – Mercedes Benz

The Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell SUV – which the car maker says is the world’s first plug-in hydrogen car – has been delivered to selected customers in Germany.

It combines the advantages of both zero-emission drive technologies, with an intelligent operating strategy continuously optimising use of both energy sources in line with the operating situation, also influenced by the selected drive programme – Eco, Comfort or Sport.

The combined hydrogen consumption is listed as 0.34kg/100km and the combined electrical consumption 13.7kWh/100km, the only emission being water vapour when using hydrogen.

Four operating modes are “hybrid” – using both energy sources (51km range), “f-cell” where only hydrogen is consumed – ideal for steady cruising over long distances (about 430km), “battery” – suitable for short distances, and “charge” where charging the high-voltage battery has priority.

In all operating modes, the system features an energy recovery function from braking or coasting.

Two carbon fibre-encased tanks in the vehicle floor hold 4.4 kg of hydrogen, and supply can be replenished within three minutes.

The 13.5kWh battery can be charged from 10% to full in 1.5 hours and the engine produces 155kW of power.

First customers include various national and regional ministries, the National Organisation Hydrogen (NOW) and H2 Mobility, and Deutsche Bahn – the German railways.

Further handovers this year will include Air Liquide, Shell, Linde AG and also the cities of Stuttgart and Hamburg.

Other business and private customers in Germany can use the vehicle next year via Mercedes-Benz Rent.

Because the fuel cell technology is new and the hydrogen filling station network has just started to expand (from 50 to about 100 stations by the end of 2019), the GLC F-Cell is being handed over successively to selected customers in Germany in specified metropolitan regions.

Mercedes-Benz says the focus is on major cities already comparatively well equipped with hydrogen filling stations, such as Stuttgart, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich and Cologne.

The SUV is likely to reach other markets – such as Europe, the US and Japan – once a network of charging stations and hydrogen filling stations is established.