Mercedes Blue-Zero E-Cell

[dpeilow]

Mercedes-Benz launches B-Class F-Cell, leases to begin in early 2010 — Autoblog Green

According to the German automaker, the car is just about ready to launch, with 200 vehicles slated to be leased throughout the United States and Europe early next year.

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Sandwiched under the car's floor will be a 1.4 kWh lithium ion battery that recaptures energy normally lost to braking. We'd also figure that battery pack will provide an even flow of electrons to the motor while the fuel cell hums away silently. Range is quoted at around 250 miles and Mercedes claims a hydrogen recharge time of just three minutes. Expect more details on the car to emerge at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

 

[dpeilow]

Pics Aplenty: Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS — Autoblog Green

The drive components have been modularly organised by the Mercedes engineers and can be combined as needed. These include state-of-the- art liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries with up to 35 kWh capacity

 

[TEG]

It seems about the right size, shape and specs to be the culmination of the "BlueStar" concept. They just need to get the price as low as possible and do some minor improvements on the styling.

(Note the dashboard height on the BlueZero. It seems way too high. That is one thing I don't like about many Mercedes cars. It may be good for safety and control visibility, but it reduces forward visibility and gives a "claustrophobic cabin" effect).

Compare to something like a Honda Civic where you can see the steering wheel, and the bottom of the windshield is more at the height of the side windows:

 

[dpeilow]

Electric Blue is the future for Mercedes | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

More electrickery...

Mercedes says that the car will travel 62 miles using battery power, and that a full charge from a household plug will take only 30 minutes.

 

[TEG]

At least they didn't say 110/120V plug. So it could be 220/240V. Also they didn't say "standard" or "common", just "household" so it could be a dryer/range plug they are using for that figure.

 

[dpeilow]

OK, so if it's 240V at 50(?)A on a US dryer plug then that gives 6kWh in 30 minutes. Is this thing going to travel 62 miles on 6kWh? Very slowly, maybe.

But this is a British magazine and a "household" plug never goes over 13A here (dryers are 13A and cookers are hard wired). So we are talking 1.5kWh.

In other words - it's more "journalistic license".