In the field of fuel cell passenger cars, Japanese and Korean brands are booming. European car giants only have one Mercedes-Benz GLC? FC as their facade, which is quite shabby. In fact, Mercedes-Benz, the inventor of the internal combustion engine vehicle, is also taking the lead in the field of fuel cell vehicles and has devoted 30 years of effort to it.
As early as 1988, Daimler engineers proposed applying PEMFC used in aerospace to automobiles. It entered the practical stage in 1991 and developed the first real PEMFC in just 3 years. sense of PEM fuel cell vehicles. Helmut Wehler, then Director of Technical Research at Daimler-Benz Group, proudly stated: “We are at the forefront of a new era and can compete with the first internal combustion engine car built by Daimler and Karl Benz. "Compared to the era of powered vehicles"
Compared to car companies such as Honda, Toyota and Hyundai, during the 30 years of research and development of fuel cell vehicles, Mercedes-Benz has achieved the transformation of PEM fuel cell vehicles from 0 to 1. Breakthroughs have been made and diversified explorations have been carried out: from "transporting stacks" to "transporting people" quickly, verifying the technical feasibility and pointing out the direction for the industry; not limited to one type of cars, but also in cars, SUVs, buses, trucks All have been tried; from gaseous hydrogen, methanol reforming to liquid hydrogen, various hydrogen storage solutions have been tried. This shows the strong strength and industry responsibility of the "inventor of the automobile". It also shows that in the exploration of new technological routes, Mercedes-Benz did not quickly grasp the key directions of technological development and go all out to promote technological development like Japanese and Korean companies.
Due to various reasons, Mercedes-Benz suspended the development of the fuel cell passenger car project, and chose to cooperate with Volvo for the commercial vehicle project. Mercedes-Benz has gone from being a pioneer and leader in the field of fuel cells to being marginalized or even temporarily withdrawing from market competition. The process is thought-provoking.
China’s fuel cell vehicle industry is currently dominated by commercial vehicles, while fuel cell passenger vehicles are still in the exploratory stage. After further development of technology and further improvement of infrastructure, China will likely quickly become the world's largest fuel cell passenger vehicle market. In addition to Japan's Toyota and South Korea's Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz's fuel cell vehicle development history is also worth learning from, and can even provide a reference for the development of China's pure electric vehicle industry: when there is a lack of reference objects, how to explore an unfamiliar field and avoid Marginalized or even eliminated by latecomers?
1. 1994: NECAR1, the starting point
On April 13, 1994, Daimler-Benz invited international media to its new research center in Ulm, Germany. And showed reporters Mercedes-Benz's first fuel cell car designed for daily use - NECAR.
Figure 1?NECAR1
NECAR?1 is based on the Mercedes-Benz MB?100 van and has traveled thousands of kilometers before release.
This car is more like a mobile laboratory than a car suitable for daily use. The fuel cell system consists of twelve Ballard fuel cell stacks with an output of 50kW and a total weight of 800KG, a number that seems unimaginable now. The hydrogen storage tank, electronic control device, compressor, cooling system, plus many measuring instruments, fill the entire cargo compartment, leaving almost no other extra space - this is exactly the same as when my country's fuel cell vehicles started.
The hydrogen storage tank holds 150 liters of compressed gas at a pressure of 30MPa and can provide a range of 130 kilometers. The power of the electric motor is 30kW, giving the NECAR 1 a top speed of 90km/h.
This is the first practice of PEM fuel cell vehicles. It is indeed unique to be practiced by the "inventor of the car". Achieving a breakthrough from 0 to 1 in three years from 1991 to 1994 is truly commendable.
Figure 2?NECAR?1
2. 1996: NECAR2, obvious progress, sensational in the world
On May 14, 1996, Daimler- Mercedes-Benz has demonstrated to the public the world's first passenger car with fuel cell drive, NECAR2. NECAR2 uses the V-class sedan as the platform and is equipped with a 45kW electric motor and a 50kW fuel cell system.
This car has made significant progress compared to NECAR1.
In terms of stacks, the fuel cell system in NECAR?2 has been reduced in size and volume. Two stacks composed of 150 cells replace the 12 stacks of NECAR?1, weighing only about 270 kilograms, one-third of the previous product, while maintaining the same output power.
In terms of hydrogen storage tanks, two 140-liter hydrogen tanks are located on the roof, extending the vehicle's cruising range to 250 kilometers while providing space for six passengers - compared to the narrower NECAR?1 space has made huge progress. At the same time, the car's top speed can reach 110 km/h.
The display of NECAR?2 caused a sensation all over the world. The New York Times called NECAR 2 a "breakthrough in zero-emission driving." Reuters calls it “a huge step forward for Daimler and Ballard, who have reduced the battery to less than a fifth of its original mass without sacrificing power. ”
Some comments believe that “The fuel cell schedule announced by Daimler is at least four years ahead of the U.S. Department of Energy’s plan.”
NECAR 2 shows the power of Mercedes-Benz. The R&D strength has achieved a huge leap from laboratory to engineering products in just two years, from "transporting reactors" to "transporting people", verified the technical feasibility and usability of fuel cell vehicles, and led the way in new Development of energy vehicle technology.
Figure 3?NECAR?2
3. 1997: NECAR?3, methanol reforming
On September 10, 1997, NECAR?3 Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The car is designed based on the A?class sedan platform and is the world's first on-board methanol reforming hydrogen production fuel cell vehicle.
NECAR?3's reformer has the characteristics of a laboratory model. It requires a lot of space in the rear passenger compartment. The "rest" of the fuel cell system is already working "under the floor." When the accelerator pedal is pressed, the system is able to deliver 90% of its maximum output within two seconds, making this a fuel cell vehicle with the power experience of an internal combustion engine vehicle.
As in NECAR 2, in NECAR 3, two stacks with 150 cells produce an output of 50 kilowatts. They operate at temperatures around 80°C, and the water produced during operation is reused to reform methanol into hydrogen.
A fuel tank filled with 38 liters of methanol can easily travel 300 kilometers. Under the speed limit design, the 45kW electric motor provides the vehicle with a top speed of 120km/h.
NECAR?3 shows Mercedes-Benz’s thinking and attempts after encountering the bottleneck of hydrogen storage technology, and shows its ability to put it into practice.
Figure 4?NECAR?3
4. 1997?: Commercial vehicle NEBUS?O?405?N, bus went online
May 26, 1997 On the same day, Daimler-Benz exhibited NEBUS (New Electric Bus) in Stuttgart. It is the product of a collaboration between Daimler-Benz Research Institute, EvoBus? GmbH, and the Competence Center for Emission-Free Commercial Vehicles (KEN).
The utility bus approved by the German Technical Inspection Association is 2.50 meters wide, 3.50 meters high, 12 meters long, weighs 14 tons, and can accommodate 34 seated and 24 standing passengers.
NEBUS has a cruising range of 250 kilometers per hydrogen refueling, which is enough to cope with regular service bus usage scenarios. Its top speed is about 80?km?/?h.
The rear of NEBUS is equipped with 10 stacks with 150 fuel cells, with a total output of 250 kilowatts. Seven 30MPa Samsung hydrogen storage tanks are installed on the roof, with a hydrogen storage capacity of 21 kilograms.
Figure 5?NEBUS
5. 1999: NECAR4, realizing on-board liquid hydrogen
NECAR?4 is also based on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. On display in Washington, DC on March 17, 1999.
The two fuel cell stacks in NECAR?4 are each composed of 160 single cells, with a total output power of 70KW. They are only the size of suitcases and are installed under the floor of the A-class car.
It is worth mentioning that NECAR?4 uses liquid hydrogen storage. The liquid hydrogen storage tank is located at the rear of the vehicle and has a capacity of 100 liters.
To maintain extremely low temperatures, it consists of two steel tanks so it looks like an oversized thermos. Since fuel cells require gaseous hydrogen to operate, the icy liquid must be turned into a gas: two heating elements integrated into the tank ensure that the stacks are immediately supplied with hydrogen when the vehicle is started and allow them to work immediately.
After using liquid hydrogen, NECAR?4 has a top speed of 145km/h, a cruising range of 450km, and can provide space for five passengers and luggage.
Evaluations at the time believed that the NECAR 4 with more advanced technology and more optimized space structure design was a decisive step taken by Daimler towards the serial production of fuel cell vehicles. Starting in 2000, . The NECAR 4 is used for real-world testing in California, where 15 teams put it through intensive off-road and daily driving testing under everyday conditions.
In 1999, Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai's fuel cell experimental vehicles had just rolled off the assembly line, and Mercedes-Benz had already made an attempt to put liquid hydrogen on the vehicle. Mercedes-Benz's development in fuel cell vehicle technology is not unsatisfactory.
Figure 6?NECAR?4
6. 2000?: NECAR4a, realizing a single-stack vehicle fuel cell system
NECAR?4a version is used for actual testing . NECAR?4a was put on the market on November 1, 2000. It has the capability of small batch production, laying the foundation for the mass production plan of A-class cars with the same design.
Compared with the NECAR 4 launched in 1999, the "California" NECAR 4 runs on compressed hydrogen and also reaches a top speed of 145km/h (90mph)
The fuel cell of this model is more compact, consisting of only a Ballard Mark 900 stack with an output power of 75kw. Its volume can be reduced by half and its weight can be reduced by 1/3. Three 140-liter hydrogen tanks under the floor are pressurized to 35MPa. About two kilograms of hydrogen are enough to meet a 200-kilometer range.
7. 2000: NECAR5, reaching a production milestone
NECAR?5 is actually the sixth version of the NECAR concept car series after NECAR?4a. Launched at the Berlin Conference on November 7, 2000.
NECAR?5 is the mature successor of NECAR?3 and adopts methanol reforming method.
NECAR?3 uses a very large reformer. It took Mercedes-Benz only three years to halve its size and greatly reduce its weight. Therefore, NECAR 5 is the first to install the entire fuel cell system, including the reformer, on the Mercedes-Benz A-class without encroaching on the space of passengers and their luggage. Its top speed exceeds 145 kilometers per hour, and due to the use of a 45-liter fuel tank, its range can reach 400KM.
Same as NECAR?4a, NECAR?5 uses a 75KW single stack fuel cell system and is installed with humidifiers, electronic equipment, etc. in a compact size (80?x?40?x?25cm) Vibration and shock resistant container. Thanks to the newly developed glycol coolant, the drive system is frost-resistant and can be started even in freezing winter weather. Similar to diesel engines, the system requires a period of warm-up before reaching operating temperature.
At this time, the technological development direction and several key technical parameters of Mercedes-Benz’s fuel cell passenger cars are still not significantly different from those 20 years later. They are even ahead of the curve in terms of hydrogen storage and have solved the problem. A series of key issues have been solved, which is enough to show the advancement of Mercedes-Benz in fuel cell vehicle technology. 8. 2001: Sprinter, truck launched
On July 26, 2001, Mercedes-Benz launched the Sprinter, the world's first truck with a fuel cell drive system.
Sprinter is equipped with a 75kW/102hp electric motor, and power is provided by a single-stack fuel cell system. The top speed is about 120?km?/?h.
The planned duration of the tests is two years, but the first twelve months of operation have already confirmed expectations for the fuel cell van: the van traveled more than 16,000 kilometers without serious incidents. Fault.
It is worth mentioning that in 2018, Mercedes-Benz also "refurbished" this fuel cell truck.
Figure 7 Sprinter
9. 2002: A?class?F-cell, proved itself and achieved small batch production
October 2002, DaimlerChrysler showed off the A?class?F-cell and announced that 60 small cars will be produced. Since 2003, it has been tested in daily operations with small-scale customers in Europe, the United States, Japan and Singapore, within the framework of a government-subsidized international cooperative enterprise.
In late November 2004, at the Idiada test track near Barcelona, ??Spain, the A?class?F-cell drove continuously for 24 hours. This was the first time that a fuel cell vehicle achieved self-certification in an endurance test. . The car traveled nearly 8,500 kilometers at an average speed of about 120km/h.
10. 2002?: Citaro, fuel cell bus update
Citaro fuel cell bus is the successor of NEBUS. It has a range of approximately 200 kilometers and can accommodate up to 70 passengers, depending on equipment. The car is equipped with a fuel cell module with an output of more than 200kW, and a 30MPa hydrogen storage tank is also installed on the roof. The bus's top speed reached 80km/h (50mph).
Figure 8? Citaro
11. 2005: Mercedes-Benz F600 series, starting a concept car journey
At the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2005, Mercedes-Benz Des-Benz launched the F?600?HYGENIUS car.
Engineers reduced the size of the fuel cell by around 40% - achieved through a newly developed fuel cell stack, an electric turbocharger and a new humidification and dehumidification system - and achieved Peak output of 86kW, maximum torque of 350Nm. At 250 Newton meters of torque, the fuel cell drive has a continuous output of 60kW and energy consumption equivalent to 2.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers.
When necessary, the F?600?HYGENIUS can also be used as a mobile generator: its 66?kW power output is enough to power several independent houses.
Mercedes-Benz has maintained its imagination in fuel cell vehicles, but in practice it has been gradually overtaken by Toyota, Honda and others. At this time, Mercedes-Benz has lost its previous absolute leadership in fuel cell vehicle technology.
Figure 9?F600r
12. 2009?BlueZero?F-Cell
Mercedes BlueZero?F-Cell concept car in January 2009 Debuting at the Detroit International Auto Show, the Mercedes-Benz BlueZero F-Cell has a Bclass appearance. The vehicle will be equipped with a 90kW fuel cell and achieve a range of 240 miles, which is twice the range of the pure electric version of the same vehicle. In terms of power, BlueZero? F-Cell’s acceleration time from zero to 100 seconds is less than 11 seconds.
Figure 10 BlueZero F-Cell 13. 2010: B class, close to mass production
Mercedes-Benz’s fuel cell vehicle finally entered small-scale mass production in 2010 stage. Since then, Mercedes-Benz B-class fuel cell vehicles (output power 100kW/136hp, top speed 170km/h, cruising range 385km) are used every day by customers in the European and American markets.
As of that time, Daimler’s fuel cell experimental vehicles had exceeded 300, and the total mileage of the fleet had exceeded 12 million kilometers. In the United States alone, there are about 70 fuel cell vehicles that have traveled more than 3.2 million kilometers.
From 2000 to 2010, Mercedes-Benz, which had already reached the stage of small batch production, had not yet completed the leap from small batch to mass production stage. In fact, the first mass-produced fuel cell passenger car, the Hyundai IX35, was launched in 2013. This role could have been played by Mercedes-Benz. However, due to various reasons such as technology, cost, and market recognition, Mercedes-Benz’s mass production plan for fuel cell vehicles was ultimately postponed. failed to materialize.
At this time, Mercedes-Benz has lost its leading position in the development of fuel cell vehicles.
Figure 11?B?class?F-Cell
14. 2011: F125, 125th anniversary
The Mercedes-Benz F125 hydrogen fuel cell concept car was unveiled in 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was named 125 to celebrate Mercedes-Benz's 125th anniversary.
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 allows the vehicle's rated power to reach 200kW (272hp), top speed to 220km/h, and cruising range to 1100km, of which about 200km can be driven by a powerful and compact high-voltage battery, and the remaining 900km. Powered by fuel cells.
The F125’s acceleration time from zero to 100km/h is 4.9 seconds, and its top speed reaches 220km/h.
Figure 12?F125
15. 2014?: Vision?G-Code, can paint also generate electricity?
The Mercedes-Benz Vision G-Code is an SUV, and the vehicle’s paint is its most innovative design: when the vehicle is not running or idling in the same position, the multi-voltage paint will pass through multiple Generate electricity in different ways, including wind and solar, to help provide the power needed to run the different components of the SUV.
Figure 13 Vision G-Code
16. 2015: F105 fuel cell, magical appearance
The vehicle has a cruising range of approximately 684 miles, including 124 miles on battery power, then a hydrogen fuel cell provides the remaining 560 miles of range. The fuel cell itself drives two rear electric motors with a peak output of approximately 272hp and acceleration from 0 to 100 mph in approximately 6.7 seconds.
Many fuel cell concept cars reflect Mercedes-Benz’s advanced automotive concepts and profound technological accumulation, but they are more like "showing off skills". In the practice of fuel cell vehicles, Mercedes-Benz has lagged behind Japan. Korean enterprises.
Figure 14?F105?FC
17. 2018?Mercedes-Benz GLCF-Cell
Mercedes-Benz GLC?F-CELL uses hydrogen fuel cell technology, 4.4kg The hydrogen fuel is stored in two carbon fiber canisters, one at the driveshaft and the other under the rear seat. It will take about three minutes to fill the hydrogen fuel cell's hydrogen storage tank, and the maximum cruising range will reach 437km. In addition, the new car is also equipped with a 13.8 kWh battery pack, with a pure electric cruising range of 49km.
Under the attack of Toyota Mirai and Hyundai NEXO, this model is the last "facade" of European car companies in the field of fuel cell passenger cars. Despite various technological accumulations, in practice, established European car companies undoubtedly lag behind East Asian car companies in terms of pure electric and fuel cells.
Figure 15 GLC FC
In 2020, Mercedes-Benz announced the suspension of the GLC FC project. It will take several years for BMW's fuel cell vehicle to be launched, and it will even need to use Toyota's technology. At this point, only East Asian companies remain in the fuel cell passenger car market. Europe has already gone through an experience of struggling to catch up in the field of pure electric vehicles. Will the field of fuel cell vehicles return to the path of pure electric vehicles struggling to catch up under market pressure?
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.