Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL PHEV makes use of battery and fuel cell for operations

German premium carmaker Mercedes-Benz has created a new plug-in hybrid vehicle that combines the power of two technologies –electricity (battery) and fuel cell (hydrogen). In short distances, it relies on pure electricity. When there is a need to travel over long distance, this plug-in hybrid relies on the power of fuel cell. This is the new Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL PHEV.

Using the Mercedes GLC as the base, this technological showcase isn't a futuristic vehicle, but is a real SUV that will be delivered to customers at the end of October 2018. It was originally envisioned as a plug-in hybrid, but now represents an important step by the German carmaker in the development of fuel cell technology.
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TheSteve - 10/16/2018 1:26:37 AM

+2 Boost

Great idea... providing that:

...You have an adequate hydrogen filling station network

...Your hydrogen fuel is manufactured using *clean* electrical generating sources (because you need LOTS of electricity to make relatively little hydrogen fuel), and electricity costs are hopefully way cheap.

...You don't mind pay 2x to 3x the cost per mile when running hydrogen as you would running gasoline (it's freakin' expensive today!)

TomM - 10/16/2018 6:49:12 AM

+2 Boost

Even Daimler - in the article - admits that there needs to be a major infrastructure investment before these vehicles become near worthwhile. In the USA - we do not have the electric generation capacity to fuel all of these EVs and make Hydrogen using Electricity as well - so it will be decades before EITHER technology has a real hold.

Until then - these cars will be the trophy vehicles for the rich nerd environmental class that want to be able to say they are being green. That means that the sales of these vehicles will eventually top out until more infrastructure is in place. WHen there are as many Electric hook-ups as there are gasoline pumps (You actually need more because a charge takes longer than a fill up) - then we will see. BUT - that is WAY WAY WAY in the future