Mercedes F800, a Fuel Cell Plug-in Hybrid

Mercedes-Benz F800, Hybrid Concept

Mercedes-Benz will be showing off its F800 concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show, a hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrid. According to the press release, the F800 concept can travel 18 miles on an all electric charge, after being plugged in overnight. Once the charge in the lithium-ion battery pack is gone, the fuel cell can power the vehicle for another 375 miles.

The result is no emissions, at least while you're driving (electricity production produces emissions at the plant, not the car).

Fun features in the five-seater include sliding rear doors, bold fenders and a prominent grille that Mercedes-Benz is telling reporters gives the direction they are heading in for future vehicles.  A new camera touchpad records images of the user's hand and displays it in transparent form above the center console.  A “range on map” shows how far the car can travel in electric mode.

The next generation cruise-control will follow the car in front into curves without steering at speeds up to 25 mph.  The Pre-Safe 360 Degree system  will engage the brakes about 600 milliseconds before a rear-end collision to prevent a secondary crash into another car or object.

The fuel cell powered engine is under the hood, while the electric motor is near the rear axle. Two of the hydrogen tanks are located between the passengers.

The plug-in V-6 hybrid can produce up to 409 hp and can go from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds.

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Automakers Promise Fuel Cell Vehicles by 2015

Filed under 'interesting but vague,' automakers released a joint statement promising electric vehicles with fuel cell development and market introduction through a Letter of Understanding (LoU).

The automakers are Daimler, Ford, GM/Opel, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, Renault, Nissan and Toyota. "These companies have built up remarkable know-how in fuel cell technology and thus, the signing marks a major step towards the serial production of such locally emission-free vehicles."

The automakers believe that from 2015, 'a quite significant number' of electric vehicles powered by fuel cells will be commercialized. Of course, the timeline could be even earlier, based on the individual automakers development.

The whole statement is very vague and certainly hard to interpret. Some have pointed to the possible reduction in funding for fuel cell vehicle development as the impetus for the statement.

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Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid SUV Test Drive

Toyota, in a real world test drive, estimated they could travel for 431 miles on one tank of gas, showing fuel cell cars are getting closer to reality. They estimate the 431 miles relates to 68.3 miles/kg (approximate mpg equivalent).

All this was done in 'real world' testing. The Toyota Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Advanced (FCHV-adv) was driven down the southern California coast and back.

The Test Drive Was a Tuesday
On Tuesday, June 30, two fuel cell vehicles, two Toyota Technical Center engineers, an SRNL engineer and a NREL engineer completed a 331.5 mile extended round trip drive between Torrance, California and San Diego.

"This evaluation of the FCHV-adv demonstrates not only the rapid advances in fuel cell technology, but also the viability of this technology for the future," said Jared Farnsworth, Toyota Technical Center advanced powertrain engineer.

The test drive began in Torrance at the TMS headquarters and went north to Santa Monica. Then the test drivers turned south to San Deigo and then headed back home to Torrance. The route included high speed highway driving, moderate highway driving and stop and go traffic on surface streets.

Both vehicles were outfitted with a data collection system that captured vehicle speed, distance traveled, hydrogen consumed, hydrogen tank pressure, temperature and internal tank volume. The average fuel economy was calculated by SRNL and NREL engineers.

Test Drive Results
Toyota compared the Highlander Hybrid, which gets 26 mpg with full-tank range of 450 miles. They estimate the current cost to drive (using Premium gasoline at $3.25) to travel 26 miles. They then looked at the fuel cell hybrid highlander and estimated the cost (at a projected $2 to $3 per kilogram) to travel 68 miles would cost the driver $2.50.

That means you're getting twice as far for less money and no emissions.

"Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology has advanced rapidly over the last two years," said Irv Miller, TMS group vice president, environmental and public affairs. "In 2015, our plan is to bring to market a reliable and durable fuel cell vehicle with exceptional fuel economy and zero emissions, at an affordable price."


The results are being compiled by SRNL and NREL and will be presented to the Dept. of Energy (DOE). This report will assist regulators and government research programs to accurately assess the status of the fuel cell industry and viability of the current technology.

Cost is Very High
Toyota is currently leasing the FCHV-adv to the Japanese government for 30 months at 840,000 yen a month ($7,772). If that's an indication of how much it costs to buy the fuel cell hybrid SUV, then saving a few dollars on gas is not going to make up for the up front cost of purchase.

But then, it's all a matter of scale. With more hybrids being purchased, Toyota, Ford and Honda have cut costs dramatically on their hybrid electric vehicles, making them profitable. So, once fuel cells become more widespread, won't the same eventually come true?

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