Mercedes to Launch GLC F-Cell Hybrid in Germany Next Spring
M-B’s latest hydrogen-powered SUV has zero emissions and is another milestone on the green energy crusade.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell features both fuel cells and a rechargeable battery. Alongside various national and regional ministries, as well as the National Organization Hydrogen (NOW) and H2 Mobility, the first customers in the German market also include Deutsche Bahn, the German railways. Further handovers will also be made this year, including to the companies Air Liquide, Shell, Linde AG and also the cities of Stuttgart and Hamburg. Other business as well as private customers in Germany will also be able to enjoy access to the GLC F-Cell in Spring 2019.
The SUV is an all-electric vehicle suitable for everyday use and emits no CO2 during operation. The interplay between battery and fuel cell, long-range mileage and short refuelling times make the GLC F‑Cell a very practical daily driver. Two carbon fiber-encased tanks in the vehicle floor hold 9.7 pounds of hydrogen.
Thanks to global standard 700-bar tank technology, the hydrogen supply can be replenished in just three minutes. With a hydrogen consumption of around 2.2 pounds/62 miles, the GLC F-Cell achieves around 267 hydrogen-based miles in the NEDC cycle. In hybrid mode, it additionally delivers up to 32 miles on a fully charged battery. At the same time, an output of 155 kW helps to ensure high driving dynamics.
Operating Modes
The innovative plug-in fuel cell drive combines the advantages of both zero-emission drive technologies and, thanks to its intelligent operating strategy, continuously optimises the use of both energy sources in line with the current operating situation. This is also influenced by the selected drive program: Eco, Comfort or Sport.
There are four operating modes:
- Hybrid: the vehicle draws power from both energy sources. Power peaks are handled by the battery, while the fuel cell runs in the optimum efficiency range.
- F-Cell: the state of charge of the high-voltage battery is kept constant by the energy from the fuel cell. Only hydrogen is consumed. This mode is ideal for steady cruising over long distances.
- Battery: the GLC F-CELL runs all-electrically and is powered by the high-voltage battery. The fuel cell system is not in operation. This is the ideal mode for short distances.
- Charge: charging the high-voltage battery has priority, for example in order to recharge the battery for the maximum overall range prior to refuelling with hydrogen or to create power reserves.
In all operating modes, the system features an energy recovery function, which makes it possible to recover energy during braking or coasting and to store it in the battery.
Marketing in Hydrogen Cities
In view of the new technology and the fact that the hydrogen filling station network has only just started to expand, the market launch of the GLC F-Cell is taking place in selected metropolitan regions. Above all the focus is on major cities which are already comparatively well equipped with hydrogen filling stations, such as Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich and Cologne. At market launch the SUV will be handed over successively to selected customers in Germany. The GLC F-CELL will be offered exclusively in the form of a full-service rental model. This will include all maintenance and possible repairs together with a comprehensive warranty package covering the entire rental period.
Experience Fuel Cell technology – renting the GLC F-CELL
From the spring of 2019, other business as well as private customers will also be able to experience the new fuel cell technology and rent the vehicle via Mercedes-Benz Rent from one of the seven GLC F-Cell outlets throughout Germany. The GLC F-Cell will be available for both short and long-term rental via the Premium Car Rental service from Mercedes-Benz.
Infrastructure Is Vital
A full-coverage infrastructure is an essential requirement for the success of electric mobility in Germany. Both the expansion of electric charging stations, as well as hydrogen refuelling stations, is currently underway. Thanks to its joint venture with H2 Mobility , Daimler plans to expand hydrogen refuelling stations from 50 to 100 stations by the end of 2019. The long-term objective of the partners is a network of up to 400 hydrogen refuelling stations. Similar infrastructure projects are slated for Europe, the USA and Japan.
Daimler is part of Hydrogen Mobility Europe (H2ME), a lighthouse project promoted by FCH JU which combines Europe’s leading initiatives in the field of hydrogen mobility in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Via H2ME, the FCH JU is promoting the expansion of a large-scale H2 filling station infrastructure and the development of fuel cell vehicles like the GLC F-Cell with the goal of enabling emission-free driving all over Europe.
F-Cell: More Than 30 years in the Making
Daimler researchers have been working on fuel cell technology since the 1980s. In 1994, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the first fuel cell vehicle to the global public: the NECAR 1. Many other vehicles followed: to date, fuel cell vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, including the B-Class F-Cell, have together covered more than 11,184,681 miles, thereby demonstrating the maturity of the powertrain concept.