What Is It?
Mercedes-Benz F600 Hygenius
What's Special About It?
There are those who see hydrogen as just another big "maybe" in the future of automotive fuels. Mercedes-Benz isn't one of them. Dr. Thomas Weber, head of research and development for Mercedes, says that the F600 represents a major step toward bringing a hydrogen fuel-cell drive system to production, "a goal we hope to achieve some time between 2012 and 2015."
The F600 Hygenius is the latest in a series of alternative-fuel concept vehicles that the German automaker thinks will help lead it toward that goal. Mercedes says that the F600's fuel-cell stack is 40-percent smaller than the previous version and that the car suffers from fewer cold-start problems, a common issue with fuel-cell vehicles. The F600's drive system works like a hybrid of sorts in that it can alternate between battery power and fuel-cell power depending on the load. Maneuver into a parking space and it will run on its lithium ion battery pack alone. Accelerate at full throttle and fuel-cell power will kick in to generate up to 115 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
More than just a rolling fuel-cell laboratory, the F600 is a practical car, too. It not only has a sizable interior, but its unique seats can be configured to face forward or backward. ISOFIX child seats can be attached to any of the three passenger chairs and the front passenger is protected by a new knee-restraint system when facing forward. A standard power outlet in the cargo bay also allows access to power directly from the fuel cell.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Fuel cells may still be 10 years off, but every time a vehicle like the F600 concept debuts we get one step closer to the reality of hydrogen power. — Ed Hellwig
Mercedes-Benz F600 Hygenius
What's Special About It?
There are those who see hydrogen as just another big "maybe" in the future of automotive fuels. Mercedes-Benz isn't one of them. Dr. Thomas Weber, head of research and development for Mercedes, says that the F600 represents a major step toward bringing a hydrogen fuel-cell drive system to production, "a goal we hope to achieve some time between 2012 and 2015."
The F600 Hygenius is the latest in a series of alternative-fuel concept vehicles that the German automaker thinks will help lead it toward that goal. Mercedes says that the F600's fuel-cell stack is 40-percent smaller than the previous version and that the car suffers from fewer cold-start problems, a common issue with fuel-cell vehicles. The F600's drive system works like a hybrid of sorts in that it can alternate between battery power and fuel-cell power depending on the load. Maneuver into a parking space and it will run on its lithium ion battery pack alone. Accelerate at full throttle and fuel-cell power will kick in to generate up to 115 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
More than just a rolling fuel-cell laboratory, the F600 is a practical car, too. It not only has a sizable interior, but its unique seats can be configured to face forward or backward. ISOFIX child seats can be attached to any of the three passenger chairs and the front passenger is protected by a new knee-restraint system when facing forward. A standard power outlet in the cargo bay also allows access to power directly from the fuel cell.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Fuel cells may still be 10 years off, but every time a vehicle like the F600 concept debuts we get one step closer to the reality of hydrogen power. — Ed Hellwig
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