A look at the 25-year development history of Daimler fuel cell vehicles. What will be the future development trend?

In 1994, Daimler-Benz AG launched the then-new representative of electric mobility - the NECAR research vehicle with electric drive and fuel cell stack, which laid the foundation for the launch of other vehicles in the subsequent NECAR series.

These subsequent fuel cell models obviously include the latest Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell. In fact, the GLC F-Cell has integrated the latest technology into the hybrid version, ensuring that the vehicle has a hybrid hydrogen consumption of only 0.34kg/100km, hybrid carbon dioxide emissions of 0g/km, hybrid electricity consumption of 13.7kW/100km and many other superior performances.

From the debut of the NECAR1 to the launch of the Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in September 2017, Daimler's fuel cell vehicle development has gone through nearly 25 years, and the product performance is also incomparable. The latest GLC F-Cell was handed over to customers in December 2018 for daily driving.

Starting point: NECAR 1

Let’s go back to 1994. At that time, NECAR was based on the Mercedes-Benz MB 100 transporter. When it was officially launched to the media, NECAR had already traveled thousands of kilometers on German roads without any obstacles. So it can be concluded that NECAR was actually developed before 1994. In order to distinguish it from subsequent NECAR models, this car was eventually named NECAR 1.

Under the fuel cell drive, NECAR 1 has a maximum speed of 90km/h, an electric engine rated output of 30kW (41hp), and a cruising range of about 130km, but the main assembly and energy storage still require a lot of space, almost occupying the entire loading compartment. But obviously, the huge potential of fuel cell drive technology in the automotive field has been quite obvious.

▲In 1996, NECAR 2, based on the V-class production model, was launched. Compared with its predecessor, NECAR 2 has an output power of 45kw/61hp, a maximum speed of 110km/h, and a cruising range of 250km, and its performance has been greatly improved. The fuel cell system is placed under the short hood of NECAR 2, and the hydrogen tank is installed on the roof. These spaces are adjusted to provide enough space for 6 passengers. These performances of NECAR 2 sound like they are enough for daily short trips, but they are far from enough for Daimler.

▲1997年，戴姆勒推出了基于A级车型打造的NECAR 3，新车额定输出功率45kw/61hp，最高时速120km/h，续航里程飙升至400 km。在这款车上，戴姆勒尝试了获取来源更为广泛，成本优势更为显著的甲醇为燃料，配备了车载甲醇重整装置用于生产车辆驱动所需的氢气。

▲Two years later, NECAR 4, also based on the A-class model, was unveiled. The output power of NECAR 4 was increased to 55kw/75hp, the maximum speed was 145km/h, the cruising range reached 450k, and there was space for 5 people in the car. Since liquid hydrogen is stored in a cylindrical tank at the rear of the vehicle, NECAR 4 provides more available space for passengers, including luggage space.

The outside world believes that the NECAR 4, with its higher technology and space structure design, is a decisive step for Daimler to take towards the series production of fuel cell vehicles. Subsequently, the NECAR 4 was used for actual testing in California from 2000, and 15 teams conducted intensive field and driving tests under daily conditions.

▲In 2000, Mercedes-Benz launched NECAR 5, with an output power of 55kW/75hp, a top speed of 145km/h and a range of 400km. Like NECAR 3, it also carries a methanol reforming unit, but the entire fuel cell system is significantly smaller and lighter and can be installed on the A-class sandwich floor, reserving all the interior space for passengers and luggage.

Of course, Mercedes-Benz has not neglected the field of fuel cell buses. In 1997, Mercedes-Benz launched the NEBUS O 405 N, which introduced fuel cell technology into the commercial vehicle field for the first time. The hydrogen fuel of this vehicle is stored in seven glass fiber wrapped aluminum tanks on the roof, which can support a range of 250km, enough to cope with the daily workload of a city bus.

▲In 2003, the first batch of 30 150kW (204hp) fuel cell city buses were put into operation in European cities, and then hydrogen fuel cell buses were equipped in various parts of the world.

▲2005年，梅赛德斯－奔驰在第39届东京车展上推出了F 600研究车HYGENIUS，新车输出功率85kW/115hp，最高车速140km/h，续航里程可达400km，但所配备的燃料电池系统在效率和性能显著提升的基础上，体积减少了40％。

End point: fuel cell products are introduced into daily use

Mercedes-Benz fuel cell drives finally entered (small-scale) series production in 2010. Since then, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class fuel cell vehicle (output 100kW/136hp, top speed 170km/h, range 385km) has been used every day by customers in the European and American markets.

Daimler has more than 300 fuel cell research vehicles so far, with a total fleet mileage of more than 12 million km. In the United States alone, about 70 fuel cell vehicles have traveled more than 3.2 million km.

In January 2011, the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell World Drive was officially launched in Stuttgart, aiming to draw global attention to the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure and promote the widespread use of emission-free fuel cell vehicles. Stuttgart also became the starting point for the first global trip using a fuel cell-powered car.

In this event, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class fuel cell vehicles traveled across four continents and 14 countries, covering a total distance of 30,000 km.

In the same year, Mercedes-Benz also displayed its F 125 model. The core of the new car's drive system is equipped with a more powerful fuel cell system and integrated plug-in hybrid technology. The use of high-performance advanced technology enables the vehicle's rated power to reach 200kW (272hp), a maximum speed of 220km/h, and a cruising range of 1100km, of which about 200km can be driven by a powerful and compact high-voltage battery, and the remaining 900km is driven by a fuel cell.

Of course, the most impressive is the latest GLC F-Cell model launched by Mercedes-Benz. As the world's first fuel cell plug-in hybrid vehicle, the GLC F-Cell can support a range of over 400km using only hydrogen, and the lithium battery will contribute 50km to the range. In addition, in various operating modes, the system has the function of energy recovery during braking or inertial motion.

Mercedes-Benz says: "The interplay between battery and fuel cell, the long range and short refuelling times make the GLC F-CELL a vehicle with high everyday practicality."

At the end of 2018, Mercedes-Benz has delivered GLC F-CELL vehicles to specific customers in Germany for testing. These customers include Deutsche Bahn, Air Liquide, Shell, Linde Group, etc. In 2019, consumers will be able to use GLC F-CELL through the Mercedes-Benz leasing platform.