Zero-emission driver's license test available in California
Apparently it's hydrogen week here on AutoblogGreen, and perhaps all these fuel cell stories actually are heralding the new hydrogen economy blooming right before our eyes. Maybe, maybe not. Whatever the case, for some new drivers in California, learning to drive was a green experience, thanks to the DMV's fuel cell Mercedes-Benz F-Cell.
The DMV vehicle is part of the world-wide fleet of fuel cell vehicles Mercedes has on the road. One student who took his driver's test in the car said, "It was an experience to see the look on the evaluator's face at the DMV. I'm sure it made his day to ride around in the F-Cell giving me my driving test." Strange that the student was so concerned about how the instructor felt.
The F-Cell can go about 100 miles per charge and has a top speed of 85 mph. The electric motor develops 88 hp (65 kw), enabling acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 16 seconds, according to the Chrysler Group.
[Source: Chrysler Group]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John G. 8:00PM (6/01/2006)
this is better than an electric car how?? ;)
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Phil L. 9:02AM (6/02/2006)
Well, a fuel cell car *is* an electric car.
The battery mechanism has changed, but all of the other electric car fundamentals remain.
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Bruno Vanzieleghem 3:06PM (6/02/2006)
The fuel cell car is a better alternative than the full electric car due to its higher energy density. If one would replace the total volume of the fuel cell and its associated hydrogen tank with batteries, the range of the car would be significantly less. Now if we want to take it even further, and we replaced the total volume of the fuel cell stack and the fuel tanks with an internal combustion engine of equal volume, we would probably end up with a muscle car of some sort with a very long range, since internal combustion engines are even more energy dense than fuel cell systems.
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MR 4:02PM (6/02/2006)
The Mercedes F-Cell is a nice car, very good to drive. I would have loved to take my license test in one of those - but since they have no clutch pedal (fixed transmission) you wouldn't be able to use a manual gearbox if you learned to drive in one of those...
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John G. 1:22PM (6/03/2006)
Yeah, but I bet the cost of a fuel cell car is still through the roof. The second-generation EV1 from GM was a two-seater, but it also got 100 miles on a charge and might've sold for $40,000.
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DPC car videos 4:04AM (8/26/2006)
acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 16 seconds, they have to work on this :)
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