Mercedes-Benz has launched the F-CELL World Drive, a long-distance demonstration of its B-Class F-Cell electric drive cars.
The objective of the F-CELL World Drive is to demonstrate the efficiency and suitability for everyday use of fuel cell technology, and at the same time campaign for the development of a global hydrogen filling station network.
Travelling across four continents and through 14 countries for over 125 days, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL vehicles will head around the globe once, finishing their “world tour” back in Stuttgart where they started.
The route starts in Stuttgart and from there, the Mercedes B-Class F-CELL will travel on down to Lisbon, air-freighted to the continental U.S. which it will travel across and then over to Australia. From there, a boat will take the globe-trotting B-Class F-CELL to Shanghai, where it will then drive across Asia and head on back towards Stuttgart.
In the current B-Class F-CELL, the 100 kW/136 hp electric motor, which develops torque of 290 Nm, delivers dynamism from the instant the engine starts to turn. At the same time the B-Class F-CELL achieves an NEDC consumption (New European Driving Cycle) equivalent to only 3.3 liters of fuel (diesel equivalent) per 100 kilometers (71 mpg U.S.).
The Mercedes B-Class F-CELL has a range of around 400km (240-250 miles), so a lot of filling up will take place as the trip progresses.
Mercedes-Benz is partnering with Linde AG for this venture, which, thanks to its sites and subsidiaries located throughout the world, guarantees a reliable supply of the hydrogen required by the cars.[wzslider height=”400″ lightbox=”true”]
