Mercedes-Benz will present two BlueZERO variants at the 2009 NAIAS show in Detroit: the BlueZERO E-CELL as a purely battery-powered vehicle and the fuel-cell version, the BlueZERO F-CELL – both of which are emission-free in local operation. Mercedes-Benz development engineers are also working on a third version with a range extender, the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS. This is additionally equipped with a compact internal combustion engine as a generator that produces power during a journey.
The main idea of the five-door Concept Blue Zero is a double floor that can accommodate all of the key powertrain components. The one on the show floor has a lithium-ion battery pack under the passengers and an electric motor that powers the front wheels. The battery pack could be easily substituted for a fuel cell and hydrogen storage.
This type of flexibility will probably be critically important in the future and Mercedes envisions offering the car in three versions. The E-Cell is purely electric and can travel 124 miles on a charge, the E-Cell Plus adds a range-extending gas engine but can still travel 60 miles on electric power, and finally the F-Cell employs a fuel cell to achieve a 248-mile hydrogen-powered range.
Mercedes says that all of the cars would be capable of accelerating to 60 mph in under 11 seconds