Mercedes-Benz getting serious about fuel-cells-for vans

Although Mercedes-Benz Vans recently unveiled new battery-electric eVito and eSprinter vans that will be on sale in Europe starting at the end of this year, the company acknowledged that a battery-electric van will not suit all customer operations, particularly where longer range is a factor. To address electric-van range anxiety, it recently showed a concept Sprinter F-Cell.

The F-Cell concept uses a compact hydrogen fuel cell, designed to fit in the standard engine bay. The fuel cell stack has 412 cells creating 75 kW. This is passed through an inverter to an underfloor battery pack similar to those used in the new eVito and eSprinter. The 105-kW battery, which can be wall-charged for plug-in use, powers an electric motor, which in turn drives through a transmission integrated into the rear axle of the van, delivering 147 kW (197 hp) and 350 N·m (258 lb·ft).