Daimler has a major involvement in the development of green powertrain technologies and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are a key part of its strategy. Why power cars with hydrogen? Standout reasons include zero tailpipe emissions, long driving ranges and rapid refueling.

Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL prototype, © Daimler AG

Later this year, Daimler and Mercedes-Benz are launching an innovative new vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz GLC. The GLC F-CELL is a world’s first in at least two ways: it contains a compact fuel cell system which fits into a conventional engine compartment, and it holds a lithium-ion battery that serves as an additional energy source for the electric motor.

In a two-part interview, Prof. Dr. Christian Mohrdieck, Daimler’s Fuel Cell Director, talks to cH2ange about the new Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL, the benefits of hydrogen as a fuel and its essential role in sustainable low-carbon mobility. In part 1, Prof. Dr. Mohrdieck discusses the F-CELL vehicle itself, the engineering challenges involved in its development and the territories currently leading the way in hydrogen infrastructure.

Firstly, can you tell us about the technical specifications of the Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL?

Prof. Dr. Christian Mohrdieck, Daimler’s Fuel Cell Director.

The F-CELL’s engine has a power output of 150kW (204 horsepower), which is a significant power level for this type of car. It also offers an impressive driving range. This depends on driver behavior and we are waiting for confirmation of the numbers, but we expect the F-CELL to achieve a range of around 500km, based on the New European Driving Cycle.

“The power level and acceleration are the same as you’d expect from any Mercedes-Benz car, whether internal combustion engine (ICE) or hybrid.”

What distinguishes the F-CELL from other hydrogen vehicles?

There are two main distinctions, the first of which concerns performance. The power level and acceleration are the same as you’d expect from any Mercedes-Benz car, whether internal combustion engine (ICE) or hybrid. It also offers the same high level of safety, quality and comfort.

The second distinction is that this car is a plug-in fuel cell hybrid, which is a first for a series production vehicle. This combination of fuel cell and plug-in battery is ideal given the progressive development of the hydrogen infrastructure. The car’s lithium battery has an energy capacity of about 9 kWh, giving the car an additional range of about 50km. It has an onboard charger so it can be charged at any socket or charging station.

What are the main differences between the F-CELL and a conventional car?

Firstly, it’s a zero emissions car — no emissions at all, just water vapor coming out of the tailpipe. Secondly, the car has tremendous acceleration. This is due to the electric drivetrain that provides instantaneous torque, even at zero rpm (rotation per minute). The third feature that is very noticeable is that the car is extremely quiet, in terms of both audible noise and also vibration. It’s a smooth and very comfortable driving experience.

“We reduced the amount of platinum by 90%, which provides a significant cost reduction. Our fuel cell is not much above the platinum loading of a catalytic converter on a conventional car.”

What were the main engineering challenges?

We wanted to package the fuel cell into the same vehicle space as an ICE car, which was a major tactical challenge. This meant designing the fuel cell to very specific geometrical dimensions. An additional requirement was crash worthiness, which is not only about shape and dimensions but also the positioning of soft and rigid parts in order to achieve the desired crash behavior. As a result, we can say that this car fulfills the same very high crash standards as any other Mercedes-Benz car.