Mercedes Concept Sprinter F-Cell: the electric motorhome

Emission-free and connected. This is the Mercedes Sprinter F-Cell, the electric motorhome prototype from Mercedes that runs on a fuel cell.

Electrification comes to the world of caravanning. Mercedes-Benz unveils at the Caravan Salon taking place in Düsseldorf the Mercedes Sprinter F-Cell concept. An electric motorhome that solves the problems this type of propulsion poses in large, heavy vehicles by using a hydrogen fuel cell.

Long-distance travel is no problem for this emission-free motorhome. With an electric motor delivering 147 kW (198 CV) and a peak torque of 350 Nm, the batteries can be recharged by plugging the vehicle into the mains. But mainly it receives its energy from the fuel cell installed on board, which runs on hydrogen. Its range thus reaches 530 kilometres.

Fuel-cell motorhome: all advantages

The technical base used for the Mercedes Sprinter F-Cell comes from the Mercedes GLC F-Cell, presented as a pre-production model. In its standard configuration, the installation of three hydrogen tanks is envisaged. With a total capacity of 4.5 kg of this fuel, 300 km can be covered. In a second configuration, an additional tank at the rear increases the range by another 200 km. Recharging the batteries from the mains provides a range of about 30 kilometres without using hydrogen.

The advantages of having a fuel-cell system in a motorhome go beyond the efficiency and sustainability of this propulsion system. The fuel cell can also be used as a power source to supply electricity when it is time to camp.

At the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon, Mercedes also presented the so-called Mercedes-Benz Advanced Control (MBAC). It is a module that eliminates the separation between the vehicle and the area where passengers live inside the motorhome. With this system, now close to series application, Mercedes motorhomes will become true connected homes on wheels.

Everything can be controlled from the central display or from a smartphone app. From dimming the windows and the water tank levels to air conditioning, the audio system, ambient lighting or the multimedia equipment.