Unique hybrid combination: With EQ Power as its technical designation, the latest electric model in the Mercedes-Benz range to be destined for subsequent series production is doubly electrifying, for as a world first, it is set to combine innovative fuel-cell and battery technology into a fully electric plug-in hybrid. Thanks to F-CELL technology, the only local emissions are water vapour.
Completely new fuel cell system: Compared to the preceding generation, the fuel cell system is 30 percent more compact and for the first time fits into a conventional engine compartment. Further improvements over the B‑Class F-CELL: 40 percent more drive power and 90 percent less platinum. The weight is also around 25 percent lower.
Full day-to-day suitability: Thanks to around 350 Nm of torque and an output of around 147 kW, the pre-series model of the GLC F-CELL offers plenty of driving pleasure. Operating ranges are 437 km in H2 mode (NEDC in HYBRID mode, measures in the presence of TÜV) and 49 km in battery-electric mode (NEDC in BATTERY mode). Thanks to 700 bar tanking technology, the GLC F-CELL is refuelled in around three minutes.
Safety as standard: Standard equipment is extensive, and includes Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, the Lane Tracking package with Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist, the Parking package with 360° camera and COMAND Online with traffic sign recognition. Passive safety also meets the highest expectations: Apart from its usual, extensive programme of crash tests, Mercedes-Benz applies particularly stringent safety standards to the battery and all components containing hydrogen.
From the fuell cell pioneer: Mercedes-Benz presented its first fuel cell vehicle in as early as 1994 - the NECA 1. Many further vehicles followed, including the A-Class F-CELL fleet (2003). In 2011, special attention focused on the F-CELL World Drive, the first round-the-world journey in fuel-cell vehicles. In 2015, the F 015 Luxury in Motion study presented an F-CELL plug-in hybrid drive system designed for 1100 kilometres of emission-free driving.
Constant progress with the H2 infrastructure: On 5th March 2018, the Total filling station in Ingolstadt was taken into operation as the 45th German hydrogen filling station. Together with its partners in the H2 Mobility joint venture, Daimler has already drawn up a specific action plan. The network of H2 filling stations is scheduled to reach 100 by the end of 2019. By 2023 there is to be a network of up to 400 hydrogen filling stations. Similar infrastructure projects are also under way at European and international level (especially in Japan, but also in the USA and S. Korea).
