The Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell Is A Hydrogen-Electric Hybrid For The Next Generation

Mercedes is still working hard on making fuel cell technology a production reality with a new hydrogen-electric plug-in hybrid SUV.

Based on a GLC platform, the idea sees electric motors providing the motion, fed by either a conventional plug-in battery like those already in use, or by electricity generated by combusting the hydrogen in the fuel cell. Either way, there are no exhaust emissions except water vapour when running on hydrogen power. You get the battery for short trips and the hydrogen for longer jaunts across country, for the best of both zero-emission worlds.

Energy density can be higher in batteries than in hydrogen, but their weight counts against them. Combining both is potentially, from a technological point of view, the perfect solution.

The hydrogen tanks are placed in a ‘crash-protected area’ between the axles and have their own subframe for extra strength. Cut-off circuits activate in the event of a crash, preventing any accidental brushes with flammable hydrogen or active electrics.

Due to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the GLC F-Cell’s aerodynamics have been honed in the wind tunnel at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center in Sindelfingen. All weather events right up to 160mph winds and heavy snowstorms can be replicated at the site, as well as temperatures from -40 degrees celsius to 60 degrees above freezing.

As well as that, though, the car has been tested in Spain, Sweden and the mountain ranges of the Black Forest in Germany. We’ll know more about it next week after the car is shown to the media at Frankfurt.