Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell

Expert Rating:

Introduction

Fuel cell cars might be touted as the future, but the reality is they're ready to go now. We've been driving the Mercedes B-Class F-CELL, this green machine generating its own electricity via a hydrogen fuel cell. Four kilograms of hydrogen is enough for the B-Class F-CELL to cover 248 miles, the only problem being the availability of hydrogen and the cost of putting the F-CELL into widespread production.

What is it?

Outwardly the B-Class F-CELL looks just like an ordinary B-Class. Remove the stickers announcing its innovative powertrain and it'd be nothing remarkable. Underneath its familiar bodywork though is a drivetrain that's touted as a real solution for the future of mobility. There's a fuel cell fitted into the B-Class's sandwich-style floor, the electricity creating device running on hydrogen and working in conjunction with a small battery to drive its electric motors. So instead of plugging it in to recharge the batteries, the fuel cell uses the hydrogen in a chemical reaction to create electricity.

How does it drive?

Every time we drive a new electric or fuel cell car we're astonished at how impressive they are at achieving our expectations of performance from conventional engines. The B-Class F-CELL is no different, its 136bhp combined output giving it a credible 0-62mph time of 11.4 seconds. It'll easily cruise past our national speed limit too on its way to a top speed higher than 100mph. There's little noise and no delay in the throttle's action, a small prod resulting in the B-Class pulling away cleanly and quickly. It's around 300kg heavier than its petrol or diesel relatives, but given its responses you wouldn't know it, the B-Class F-CELL feeling remarkably lively despite its additional bulk.

The B-Class isn't a car you're ever going to get too excited about driving and the F-CELL is much the same, though knowing that you can cover such distances between fills and easily keep up with everyday traffic in a car emitting zero CO₂ at its tailpipe is very impressive. It'll get lighter too, the B-Class F-CELL's already powertrain some 40 percent smaller and 30 percent more powerful than it's A-Class F-CELL predecessor, all while consuming 15 percent less hydrogen.

The F-CELL is very near production ready, though given the lack of hydrogen filling stations and the enormous cost of building it, the F-CELL will remain an experimental vehicle that's built in tiny numbers while Merc's people try to sort out production costs and provide a fuelling infrastructure.

Planet hugger or planet mugger?

There's no real equivalency mpg rating for the F-CELL's hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, but 248 miles from 4kg of hydrogen at least gives potential fuel cell drivers a decent range between fill ups. Emitting no nasty CO₂ or other pollutants on the road there still remains a debate on the amount of CO₂ produced when extracting the hydrogen that's needed to create the F-CELL's electricity.

Verdict

A tantalising chance to experience a future propulsion method that could reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, the F-CELL isn't without hurdles to overcome, but the basics are right. It performs just like you'd expect a conventional B-Class to, while its drivetrain all fits into the existing layout without encroaching on passenger or luggage space. It's a potential future means of mobility that's possible today, and a hugely impressive one too.

Kyle Fortune

Tuesday July 28