3 Drivetrains, 1 Car, Zero Emissions

3 Drivetrains, 1 Car, Zero Emissions
By Chuck Squatriglia December 15, 2008 | 4:25:44 PMCategories: Concept Cars, Electric Vehicles, Fuel Cells

Hybrid? Electric? Hydrogen? Why choose when you can have all three?

Mercedes-Benz has developed a modular design that can accommodate a gas-electric, battery electric or hydrogen fuel-cell drivetrain in a compact five-seater it calls Concept BlueZero. By using a common architecture based on the A- and B-Class subcompacts, Mercedes says it can diversify its drivetrains without developing a slew of new models.

"Our modular system allows different drive configurations for every customer requirement," says R&D chief Dr. Thomas Weber. "The modified sandwich-floor platform provides the perfect basis for a wide range of electric drive systems."

Although the three BlueZero cars coming to the Detroit auto show in January are just concepts, they are guideposts to the company's future. Mercedes says it will produce its first fuel-cell cars "on a small scale" next year and offer a "small-scale production" of EVs in 2010.

Mercedes says BlueZero allows it to easily embrace "electromobility" in three ways:

•E-Cell - a battery electric vehicle with a range of about 125 miles.
•E-Cell Plus - a range-extended electric vehicle that uses a small gasoline engine to recharge the battery as it approaches depletion. Think Chevrolet Volt but smaller.
•F-Cell - a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle with a range of about 248 miles.
The three BlueZero vehicles share components, and the design and dimensions are identical. Although the three cars are about the same size as a Honda Fit, Mercedes says they seat five adults and have plenty of cargo space. They are "electric cars offering everyday practicality," says Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche.

The "sandwich floor" architecture puts the battery pack and other components under the floor, creating plenty of room inside while giving the cars a low center of gravity, agile handing and excellent crash safety, Mercedes says.

All of the cars feature a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery with a maximum capacity of 35 kWh; Mercedes says they charge in four hours when plugged into a typical wall outlet. The electric motor produces 70 kW (about 94 horsepower) and 236 foot-pounds of torque, propelling the little runabout to 62 mph in a little less than 11 seconds.

The E-Cell Plus uses a 1.0-liter turbocharged engine (the same one found in the Smart fortwo) to keep the battery going. Mercedes didn't offer any details on the fuel-cell drivetrain, but there's probably not much new to say considering the company's been developing hydrogen cars for six years.

The exterior styling provides a glimpse of the next-gen B-Class vehicles we'll see in 2010, although the translucent body panels, clear wheel covers and "three-dimensional light effects" integrated into those 20-inch wheels probably won't see production.

See Also:

•The Mercedes Coupe in Wagon Clothing
•You'll Need the Gas Savings With Mercedes' $100K Hybrid
•Daimler, Ford Place Huge Bet on Hydrogen
Images by Mercedes-Benz.
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Put up or shut up.
Posted by: J-Bob | Dec 15, 2008 2:03:20 PM

J-Bob's comment is crude, but spot on. Concept cars, expecially green ones, never seem to make it past the concept stage.
Posted by: toast2042 | Dec 15, 2008 2:53:41 PM

Other models in development using the same platform include:

P-Cell: Recharges the battery via pedals located in each passenger footwell.

S-Cell: Uses a small sail to propel the vehicle to heart stopping speeds in excess of 10 mph. Also includes a small wind generator to recharge the battery.

T-Cell: Recharges the battery via a giant hamster wheel in the trunk housing a perpetually running zombie.

R-Cell: Using the extracted magic of rainbows and unicorns, this innovative propulsion system is based entirely on the power of imagination.

Posted by: AJ | Dec 15, 2008 3:15:41 PM

Looks like a messed up Honda Fit.
Posted by: Zsxd | Dec 15, 2008 3:20:33 PM

Honda Fits were messed up to being with. Besides, fuel cell is the future, we just can't utilize it fully yet.
Posted by: Serath | Dec 15, 2008 3:54:49 PM

I think it looks like a Kia Rhondo. Just thought that I would add that. I like the interior. But still I don't think that this will make it past the concept stage. I also like the idea in general but it seems like just a concept and not much more. Although if things like the drive train of a car was made up of simplified modals then it would be much easier for someone to say have a sedan, during the week it runs on say electric power and then you swap the electric motor for a more powerful diesel on the week ends for some back road fun.
Posted by: net625 | Dec 15, 2008 4:05:19 PM

Turn that E-Cell plus gas engine into a diesel engine then convert that puppy to run on bio-diesel and you have a great long distance "green" car. Until a battery only and/or fuel cell car outperforms it.
Posted by: Kalz | Dec 15, 2008 4:36:46 PM

Wow, Tony, you're really on to something. Concept cars and interracial sexual fetishes in one stop!
Posted by: Howard | Dec 15, 2008 4:51:31 PM

looks like every other mouse-like car, even comes in the popular puke green.
Posted by: Joel | Dec 15, 2008 4:59:35 PM

I own a 2007 Red Honda Fit and I think it is a really fun car. I owned a Porsche 944 before the Fit. The handling is surprisingly good and wow does it have a lot of room inside to carry a lot of stuff when the seats are folded down flat to give it 55 cu ft of cargo space. It is the best thought out car I have ever owned. Building future car types on it is a great idea.
Posted by: Jack May | Dec 15, 2008 5:23:20 PM

You may recall GM trying to sell their ludicrous "skateboard" chassis concept a few years ago: stupid because it ignored the fact that different classes of vehicles have different requirements for things like spring rates, shock absorbers, wheel travel and battery size- there couldn't be one skateboard, there would have to be dozens. There was no engineering or cost benefit: it was a re-introduction of body on frame.You will notice that none of the skateboard technology has carried over to the Volt. Mercedes has come at the problem from the other direction, and figured out a way to put a thin, flat battery pack or fuel cell into the floor pan of an existing car. It uses a platform that is being designed anyway(which simplifies the stocking of spare parts, and lowers unit costs), and because it is being designed in tandem with the A and B class, the special requirements of the new drive trains can be allowed for in the parts sourcing for the gas and diesel versions. The production volume of the A and B class will allow them to increase production if required, either by ratcheting up production lines or cannibalizing gas and diesel sales; a stand-alone vehicle with a specialized chassis could not do this. They're not betting the company on a new technology or building a token halo car. These guys have a viable plan to produce new drive trains in volume for the world market, and they're setting up to meet demand as it emerges(at least, that's how it looks to me). Any American companies doing that? Oh, I forgot. There's a new Charger and Camaro out this year. I guess they didn't have time.
Posted by: Lloyd G | Dec 15, 2008 7:17:29 PM

Serath, the fuel cell will only be the future if: hydrogen can be produced cheaply enough, which isn't likely anytime in the near future, no matter how the issue is spun by the greenies. Furthermore, the Fit is a great car and it and cars like it better represent the future than what you're probably envisioning.
Posted by: Sean | Dec 15, 2008 7:20:15 PM


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