Regardless of your beliefs about emissions and global warming, it’s inevitable that eventually gasoline, diesel, and the internal combustion engine will eventually be all but wiped out of existence. It’s only a matter of time and auto manufacturers aren’t exactly slowing the process down as they have all jumped on the alternative fuels wagon in one way or another. For some manufacturers, jumping on that wagon means developing all-electric cars, or highly efficient hybrid systems. Mercedes is on a different track, however. The German automaker is looking to hydrogen as the next big fuel with models like the B-Class F-CELL and the Citaro FuelCELL-hybrid having already clocked more than seven million miles in testing runs. Now, Mercedes is introduction the GLC F-CELL, the world’s first plug-in fuel-cell vehicle and one that has a combined range of 310 miles between hydrogen refills.
To date, Mercedes hasn’t released an incredible amount of information about this new GLC F-CELL, but we do know that it features two carbon-fiber-encased hydrogen tanks that only take a few minutes to fill up, and the onboard battery can be charged via a standard 120-volt wall socket, a Mercedes-Benz wall box, or a public charging station. Furthermore, that onboard battery is also charged on the fly via an energy recuperation system that kicks in during braking and coasting.
According to Mercedes’ recent press release, the model will be launched in 2017, which means it should be available in areas where hydrogen fueling stations are available. Of course, there won’t be much for competition at this time, but Mercedes will take pride in setting up shop before the market explodes with production models from every other manufacturer.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell.
Exterior
On the outside, the F-CELL has the same dimensions as the standard GLC-Class, but it takes on some aesthetic cues of its own. Up front, the same Mercedes 
grille sits ahead of the nose with its double-louver appearance and honeycomb mesh. Down below, the air dam has a gray trim insert that surrounds it and honeycomb mesh inside. The air inlet in each corner also carries over and sports the honeycomb mesh as well. The headlight units look to be the same but are outlined with a light blue color that clearly symbolizes its water-derived hydrogen-powered nature. The blue outline can also be seen at the bottom of the fascia.
Moving over to the sides, the blue accenting is also applied around the windows and along the top of the side skirt. Around back there is a gray insert on the lower fascia and a plug-in port below the right taillight. The biggest change between the standard model and this one is the water-splash graphic that encompasses the front and sides of the vehicle. It’s safe to assume that the door on the right side that is reserved for refueling on the standard model has been adapted to allow for hydrogen filling on this model.
Interior
Note: Standard Mercedes GLC pictured here.
Mercedes hasn’t released any information regarding the interior, but we know that the new fuel-cell system is now 30 percent more compact that anything else on the market, which means the entire drive system can be housed under the hood where a traditional internal combustion engine would normally reside. That being the case, it’s safe to assume that the cabin of the F-CELL will be identical to that of the standard GLC. This means you’ll see the plus cabin with two-tone upholstery, a large infotainment display perched on the center stack, Mercedes’ latest instrument cluster, a simplified dash and center console, and a flat bottom steering wheel.
There may be some smaller enhancements to the cabin to accommodate the F-CELL’s hydrogen-powered and battery-powered nature. The infotainment screen will likely include modified software to include information regarding battery charge and hydrogen levels to go with an indicator for the remaining range. The system, when equipped with navigation, may also automatically point out hydrogen fueling stations when levels begin to drop closer to empty. For now, that is just speculation, but we’ll clearly hear more about this model before its debut in 2017, so stay tuned for updates.
Drivetrain
The GLC is said to be able to obtain an overall range of up to 310 miles on a full tank of hydrogen and the charge from the battery unit, and can also go up to 31 miles on battery power without having to dip into the hydrogen tanks
I would love to tell you all about the hydrogen drive system for the new F-CELL, but at this point, Mercedes is keeping all of the pertinent information under wraps. We do know that the onboard battery will be a nine kWh unit that is housed in the rear of the vehicle chassis above the rear electric motor. Furthermore, the charger and hydrogen tank is also located in the rear, behind the vehicle’s center of gravity. Up front, the hydrogen-drive system, or brennstoffzellen-antriebssystem as the Germans call it, will be stored under the front hood in the place of one of those dirty gasoline- or diesel-powered drivetrains that our world’s governments hate so much.
The GLC is said to be able to obtain an overall range of up to 310 miles on a full tank of hydrogen and the charge from the battery unit, and can also go up to 31 miles on battery power without having to dip into the hydrogen tanks. At this point, performance specs are far from available, but I would expect moderate power from this model. A power output in the range of 300 horses isn’t out of the question and expect acceleration to be quick too, thanks to those electric motors.
Prices
Here in the U.S., the GLC is only available as the GLC 300 and GLC300 4MATIC, which are priced at $38,950 and $40,950, respectively. I wouldn’t expect the GLC F-CELL to come that cheap, though. At this time pricing is a complete mystery, but I’m betting that jumping on Mercedes hydrogen train will probably set you back to the tune of at least $55,000 if not more. That is just a guess, though, so take that pricing estimate with a grain of salt.
Competition
Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell
The hydrogen market is just starting to kick off, so there really isn’t a lot of competition out there yet. Sure, you could argue that the Toyota Mirai is hydrogen powered, but it is far from being and SUV, so it gets no play here. The only real competitor against the F-CELL right now is the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell. On the inside and outside, the Tucson Fuel Cell is pretty much the same as a standard Tucson, but under the metal, there is a hydrogen-powered system and a 24 kW battery that can propel the crossover up to 265 miles on a single fill-up. Horsepower is said to be 134 horsepower and torque runs at 221 pound-feet. At the time of this writing, the Tucson Fuel Cell isn’t exactly for sale. However, or $2,999 down and $499 a month you can get yourself one on a 36-month lease, and only if you live in an area with hydrogen access. Perhaps Mercedes will take the same “lease only” stance when the GLC F-CELL hits showrooms.
Read our full review on the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell here.
Audi H-Tron
For now, the Audi H-Tron is nothing more than a concept that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show this year. It featured a near-production ready exterior and a futuristic interior, but hey it’s a concept right? Before you kick me in the groin for listing a concept vehicle against a future production vehicle, think about this. Hyundai already as a hydrogen-powered SUV on the market. Mercedes will have one by 2017, so Audi now has more motivation than ever to shift the H-Tron concept into production. Of course, the interior will be significantly toned down, and the exterior will take some nips and tucks, but it will likely happen now that one of its main German competitors is stepping into the Hydrogen market. The Concept is said to offer close to 400 miles of range and upward of 405 pound-feet of torque. It’s hard to say where pricing will sit, but I would expect it to cost more than the Tucson Fuel Cell and more in-line with the estimated $55,000 price of the GLC F-CELL.
Read our full review on the Audi H-Tron here.
Conclusion
I’m not surprised that auto manufacturers are starting to push hydrogen technology in cars, but it does seem a little odd to see Mercedes just hit us out of the blue with a production hydrogen vehicle. Basing it on the GLC probably a smart idea considering Mercedes will have to recoup costs, and a cheaper model will help keep the hydrogen-powered variant within an affordable range. I just hope that all of these hydrogen-power vehicles that are starting to hit the market aren’t all ticking hydrogen bombs that are just waiting to go off. I doubt that is the case, but the thought does cross my mind every now and then.
Otherwise, I think hydrogen fuel is a good idea, as we can obviously make it from water. I just wish we didn’t have to lose the soul and roar of an internal combustion engine in the process. As far as the F-CELL goes, we’ll surely hear more about it closer to its 2017 launch date, so stay tuned for appropriate updates.
Press Release
Fuel-cell technology is an integral part of Daimler’s drive system strategy. Because the advantages are clear: a long operating range and short refuelling stops as well as a broad spectrum of possible uses ranging from passenger cars to urban buses. A new vehicle generation based on the Mercedes-Benz GLC is being launched in 2017. The Mercedes-Benz engineers joined forces with partners in the Daimler competence network to develop a new, compact fuel-cell system which for the first time fits into conventional engine compartments. The GLC F-CELL features a large lithium-ion battery as a further innovation of the next-generation fuel-cell vehicles. Rated at around 9 kWh, the battery serves as an additional energy source for the electric motor and can be charged externally by means of plug-in technology for the first time. Together with the further developed intelligent operating strategy, the combination of fuel cell and battery system offers maximum efficiency and comfort. With this set-up, the GLC F-CELL achieves a combined range of around 500 km in the NEDC.
Daimler relies on electric mobility with fuel cell. Vehicles such as the B-Class F-CELL and the Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid urban bus have together now clocked up in excess of twelve million kilometres, clearly demonstrating that the drive concept is ready for market. The next technology advance is now imminent: working together with partners from its global competence network, Daimler AG has developed an all-new fuel-cell system. Around 30 percent more compact than previously, it can be fully housed in the engine compartment for the first time. The fuel cell developers have also further optimised the performance and operating range. Furthermore, the cost of the innovative technology has been slashed thanks largely to a 90-percent reduction in the amount of platinum used in the stack. From 2017, Daimler will be unveiling the new-generation fuel-cell technology based on the Mercedes-Benz GLC.
World first: plug-in fuel-cell drive goes into production
A lithium-ion battery for autonomous operation is being used in an electric vehicle with fuel cell for the first time. The powerful battery has a capacity of around 9 kWh and is housed at the rear of the SUV to save space. It allows the GLC F-CELL to run on purely battery-electric power for up to 50 km in the NEDC and can be conveniently charged at a standard household socket, a Mercedes-Benz wall box or a public charging station. Two carbon-fibre-encased tanks built into the vehicle floor hold around 4 kg of hydrogen. Thanks to the globally standardised 700-bar tank technology, the tank in the GLC F-CELL can be refilled at a hydrogen filling station within just three minutes, which is about the same amount of time it takes to refuel a car with an internal combustion engine.
The combination of fuel cell and plug-in battery is ideal given the progressive development of the hydrogen filling station infrastructure. The innovative plug-in fuel-cell drive combines the advantages of both zero-emission drive technologies and, thanks to its intelligent operating strategy, continuously optimises the use of both energy sources in line with the current operating situation. The system also features a recuperation function, for example, which allows energy to be recuperated and stored in the battery during braking and coasting phases. In total, the GLC F-CELL achieves a combined range of around 500 km in the NEDC.
Global competence network: access to key technologies
Part of the Daimler AG strategy involves ensuring direct access to key electromobility components. During development and production of the innovative fuel-cell drive, Daimler AG is able to call upon its global competence network. The centrepiece of the technology, the fuel-cell stack, was developed in Vancouver, Canada together with partner Ford in the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC) joint venture. The stack is produced in the neighbourhood at Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell (MBFC). Overall responsibility for the complete fuel-cell-drive assembly and the hydrogen storage system is developed from the Daimler subsidiary NuCellSys in Kirchheim/Nabern, Baden-Württemberg.
The Daimler strain plant Untertürkheim is responsible for an establishment for the fuel cell system installation, also at the location Nabern. The hydrogen tank system consisting of carbon-fibre-encased tanks is produced at the Daimler Mannheim plant while the lithium-ion battery comes from Daimler subsidiary Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE located in Kamenz, Saxony. Daimler is currently working systematically to prepare for series production of the Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL. The family-friendly SUV suitable for daily use is produced at the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant, which acts as the competence centre for the model series. The GLC has been rolling off the production line there since July 2015. Regarding to the drive system integration of the GLC F-CELL, the partner EDAG supports the factory Bremen and will settle in the immediate work area.