The new F 600 HYGENIUS is the latest
in the series of sensational research vehicles from
Mercedes-Benz that point the way forwards for the future.
Powered by a zero-emission fuel cell drive with an
output of 85 kW/115 hp, the compact-class car with
a family-friendly design consumes the equivalent of
2.9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometres and has an operating
range in excess of 400 kilometres. The performance
and cold start characteristics of the groundbreaking
drive unit have also undergone considerable improvement.
"This
represents a major step towards bringing the fuel
cell drive up to full production maturity, a goal
that we aim to achieve some time between 2012 and
2015," comments Dr. Thomas
Weber, DaimlerChrysler AG Board Member for Research
& Technology and Head of Development at the Mercedes
Car Group. "By developing the fuel cell, we are
creating a new basis for supplying energy in tomorrow's
vehicles which will make a further lasting improvement
to their environmental compatibility."
In addition
to the fuel cell technology, the Mercedes-Benz research
vehicle also showcases a novel new operating concept
with virtual displays and new-style seats, along with
other pioneering technologies designed to enhance safety
and passenger comfort.
Fuel cells use the chemical reaction between hydrogen
and oxygen to generate electrical power in a process
that produces no emissions. Professor Herbert Kohler,
Director of Vehicle Body and Drive Research at DaimlerChrysler:
"We have made some crucial advances to this trailblazing
technology.
Despite being around 40 per cent more compact
than previously, the fuel cell in the F 600 HYGENIUS
now runs more efficiently than ever and is notable
for its good cold-start capabilities. This has been
achieved thanks to the inclusion of innovations such
as the redesigned fuel stacks, the electric turbocharger
for supplying air and an all-new humidification and
dehumidification system."
The F 600 HYGENIUS achieves a maximum power output
of 85 kW/115 hp combined with a peak torque of 350
Newton metres. The fuel cell drive alone generates
a constant power output of 60 kW/82 hp and a torque
of 250 Newton metres.
With any surplus energy being stored in a powerful
lithium-ion battery, the system acts in a similar
fashion to a hybrid drive, selecting the best power
source to use depending on the driving situation.
When parking or manoeuvring, for instance, the electric
motor draws its power from the battery alone, while
both fuel cell and battery feed it with energy in
unison when the vehicle is accelerating, producing
the peak power output of 85 kW/115 hp.
The electric motor doubles as a generator that charges
the battery during vehicle braking by recuperating
drive energy. The drive technology, the high-voltage battery and
the hydrogen tank have all been housed in a space-saving
manner beneath the occupant cell, while the high-torque
electric motor - which is also a new development from
Mercedes-Benz - has been integrated into the rear-axle
carrier. The lithium-ion battery is featuring for
the first time in a fuel cell vehicle from Mercedes-Benz
and is a further key factor in the increase in power.
Mobile power station supplies energy both at
home and away:
As well as generating clean energy to drive the research
vehicle, the fuel cell can also serve as a mobile
power source: its 66 kW of electrical power would
be quite sufficient to keep several detached houses
supplied with power.
Passengers aboard the F 600 HYGENIUS also stand to
benefit from its extraordinary energy reserves: the
cup holders which use electrical power from the fuel
cell to keep drinks chilled or hot are just one example
of this. The fuel cell's energy also allows electrical
devices to be operated anywhere at the standard voltage
level - following onboard conversion - granting the
occupants total independence from the mains network
on family outings or business trips. All they have
to do is connect the device to a power socket in the
tailgate.
Compact-class car boasting luxury-class spaciousness:
The four-door F 600 HYGENIUS also makes a mark for
itself when it comes to comfort and versatility. Despite
the body's compact length of just 4348 millimetres,
the levels of space inside are impressive, even by
luxury-class standards. The distance between the front
and rear seats - a useful indicator of the freedom
of movement and spaciousness - measures 945 millimetres,
and can be extended by up to a further 400 millimetres
thanks to the sliding design of the individual rear
seats. This puts the research vehicle's comfort dimensions
on a par with those found in exclusive luxury saloons.
Seating concept offering families the versatility
they are looking for:
A host of ingenious design solutions make the F 600
HYGENIUS an ideal family car. Take the child and family-friendly
design of the seats, for example: the front passenger
seat and the individual seats in the rear incorporate
a new technology allowing the backrest to be used
either way around.
The backrests can be swung forwards
and reversed in such a way that ISOFIX child seats
can be locked into place on the seat cushions in a
rearwards-facing position. The face-to-face seating
arrangement boosts safety at the same time as making
it easier to attend to young children en route, with
the additional fore-aft and crossways adjustment of
the rear seats allowing infants to be reached easily
from the nearside rear seat.
Adjustable backrest cushioning encourages a
relaxed and healthy posture:
Mercedes-Benz has devised a revolutionary new seat
for the driver featuring a two-piece backrest cushion
whose height, width and tilt can be adjusted to the
contours of the occupant's body by means of electric
motors, and which offers a particularly high level
of support in the midriff area. The backrest itself
has a flexible mounting that allows it to follow the
upper body movements and minimise the strain on the
intervertebral discs, regardless of the seat position.
If, for instance, the driver tilts the seat further
back, the lower section of the backrest cushioning
automatically pivots forwards to support the pelvic
area.
Two-piece tailgate and picnic seating in luggage
compartment:
The tailgate of the F 600 HYGENIUS has a two-piece
design offering maximum practicality. If space is
at a premium, a push of a button opens the tailgate
automatically, with the lower section folding inwards
so that the tailgate swings through a much tighter
arc as it opens. As this is happening, the rear bumper
drops down, pulling out the floor plate of the luggage
compartment at the same time to simplify loading.
When parked in a lay-by, a picnic area or at the beach,
the movable luggage compartment floor can be converted
into a cosy seating facility that's protected from
the elements. Two extending fabric panels can be pulled
out from underneath the floor plate and hooked into
the roof liner overhead, allowing them to serve as
temporary back supports for two people.
The front doors of the latest Mercedes research vehicle
emulate the space-saving styling of the tailgate with
a technology that is designed to make getting into
and out of the vehicle as easy and convenient as possible
when parked in tight spaces. An ingenious new mechanism
swings the doors upwards at a slant, meaning that
they take up less space to the side when opening than
conventional car doors. Gas-filled struts are able
to hold the door open in any position.
Video cameras for leaving the vehicle and changing
lane safely:
Cameras integrated into the housings of the exterior
mirrors keep an eye on traffic to the side of and
behind the F 600 HYGENIUS, even when it is parked.
If another car or a bicycle is approaching from behind,
the system will automatically disable the doors for
a brief period to avoid the risk of a collision when
they are opened. A warning signal sounds at the same
time inside the F 600 accompanied by a red danger
symbol that illuminates in the mirror glass.
Out on the road, the video system monitors the blind
spot of both exterior mirrors and warns drivers about
to change lane if a vehicle is approaching from behind.
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