Mercedes GLC F-Cell, the first Mercedes with a fuel cell that will arrive at the end of October

Mercedes continues to announce the low-emission cars it is preparing in order to gain a significant foothold in this demanding market, which will become very popular very soon. And if not long ago we saw the Mercedes C300d, which will run on a hybrid drivetrain with a diesel engine and an electric motor, now it’s time to take a look at the first electric car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The Mercedes GLC F-Cell will begin to be delivered at the end of this month, but only on a lease basis.

For now, it will only be available in the cities of Hamburg, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Munich, Cologne and Berlin, which are the ones that have a hydrogen refuelling service. The leasing service includes maintenance, repairs and a fairly extensive warranty.

Although aesthetically it doesn’t differ much from the combustion engine models, its capabilities are quite different. The front grille is the main change, as it features blue accents that represent the electric character of the model. It also gets side steps, a rear spoiler strip and alloy wheels to set it apart.

Inside, it is similar to the rest of the versions, although the two 4.4-litre hydrogen tanks are located under the rear seats, so they don’t take up boot space, though they place rear occupants in a slightly higher position. As for drive, the Mercedes GLC F-Cell offers four driving modes, depending on whether it uses the electric motor with the battery or the fuel cell.

The Mercedes GLC F-Cell can run on either energy source, covering 247 kilometres; using only the electric motor, which gives it a range of 52 kilometres; or using the hydrogen fuel cell, which is the recommended option for long journeys, and in charge mode, which favours charging the battery. This lithium-ion battery is 13.5 kWh and powers a motor producing 155 kW, equivalent to 208 CV.

The battery is charged through a 7.4 kW charger that can be connected to a domestic socket, a wall box or a public charger. As for hydrogen, the tank can be filled in about three minutes, very close to what a conventional car takes. Mercedes wants to make hydrogen a genuine alternative, so it has drawn up a plan with its partners at H2 Mobility, the hydrogen mobility project, to double the refuelling stations, from 51 to 100.