STUTTGART, Germany — Mercedes-Benz will launch its new four-passenger B-Class F-Cell, its first series-produced electric car with a fuel cell, in the U.S. and Europe starting in the spring, it confirmed on Friday. But don't expect the market to be flooded with this alt-fuel offering. Mercedes-Benz said the first of around 200 vehicles will be split between Europe and the U.S. in the initial launch.
Although it is a modest first effort, Mercedes-Benz says the vehicle paves "the way for the mass-produced fuel cell."
When asked for such key details about the B-Class F-Cell, such as pricing, Mercedes-Benz USA spokesman Rob Moran replied in an e-mailed message: "Sorry, way too early to discuss."
The B-Class F-Cell has a range of about 400 kilometers or 248 miles, said Mercedes-Benz. That means it can travel twice as far as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class F-Cell.
"[The B-Class F-Cell] is some 40 percent smaller than the system in the A-Class F-Cell from 2004, but develops 30 percent more power while consuming 30 percent less fuel," it said in a statement. The B-Class F-Cell bundles a compact fuel cell stack, a lithium-ion battery, three 700-bar tanks for the hydrogen and lightweight 136-horsepower drive motor at the front axle.
It clearly appears to be a step up from the A-Class F-Cell, which was hampered by concerns about cold-start capability. The B-Class "boasts outstanding cold-start capability down to minus 25 degrees Celsius," said the automaker. "The system features a new humidification system consisting of hollow fibers that ensures, unlike with the first-generation fuel cell, that water no longer freezes in the stack, a characteristic that used to impair cold-start capability," Mercedes-Benz said. It noted that, even at low temperatures, the B-Class F-Cell "starts just as quickly as the very latest diesel engine."
The design of the B-Class F-Cell includes what Mercedes-Benz calls a "sandwich floor," which means key components for the electric drive with fuel cells are in the vehicle underbody. This helps to conserve space in the cabin.
Other details include a special silver exterior paint, 10-spoke light-alloy wheels and leather upholstery.
Mercedes-Benz took pains to spell out the safety characteristics in the B-Class F-Cell. "In the event of a crash, safety valves close the hydrogen supply lines to the fuel cell and decouple the tanks from the other system components," it said. "Even after a serious accident, the hydrogen poses no risk whatsoever."
Inside Line says: If you're a pioneering spirit, a Mercedes-Benz fuel-cell vehicle could be in your driveway in just a few months. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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