As far back as 2010, Mercedes-Benz has discussed putting a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle on sale by 2017. With just a few months left to go before the start of 2017, Mercedes is following through on those plans with a fuel cell model it says will indeed go on sale by next year.
The GLC F-Cell is a prototype based on the GLC-Class small crossover that previews Mercedes’ upcoming fuel cell vehicle. It confirms previous rumors that the production model would be based on the GLC. The F-Cell actually gets its power from two sources: a fuel cell stack, and a supplementary lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged by plugging in.
On both power sources, Mercedes claims a 500-kilometer (310-mile) range on the European testing cycle. A pair of hydrogen storage tanks encased in carbon fiber provide the majority of that range. One is mounted down the F-Cell’s centerline, while the other is mounted transversely at the rear. The 9kWh battery pack (mounted above the rear tank) kicks in about 30 miles of range. Power is sent to the rear wheels only.
Read more: Honda’s 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell will start at “around $60k”
Mercedes says the new fuel cell stack is 30 percent more compact than the ones used in previous prototype vehicles, allowing it to fit completely under the GLC’s hood. It also uses 90 percent less platinum than previous designs. The stack was co-developed with Ford as part of an ongoing fuel cell partnership between the two manufacturers.
The stack is built in Canada, and then shipped to Germany where it meets up with various other components like the hydrogen tanks and battery pack. Vehicles are assembled at a special facility on the site of the Bremen factory that builds the regular GLC.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell goes on sale next year. Like current fuel cell models from Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota, it will likely be available in limited quantities, and only in regions where there are enough hydrogen fueling stations. Mercedes hasn’t confirmed plans to sell the F-Cell in the U.S. but, if it does, that means the crossover will likely be available only in California initially.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.