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Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes

Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes
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Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes

Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes Makes Debut

I must admit that I am losing the plot regarding the number of alternative-fuelled cars that are now being developed. On the other hand, I am very pleased that other forms of fuel are being experimented with.

None of these companies has yet disclosed any sales figures, but their fuels represent much larger pieces of the alternative fuel market. The EIA report for 2016 included less than that. In the United States, about 500 hydrogen-fuelled vehicles are in use, and about 330 of those are registered in California.

The size of this individually

produced a marketplace of AFVs (Armoured Fighting Vehicles). As a result, it may never be officially counted or calculated. It’s clear that the shift from petroleum to the next generation of fuels has already gathered a lot of momentum. Indeed, things are now moving on at a fast pace. It is also clear to individuals from around the world.

Thus, they are not waiting for big automakers. Including their governments. Hence, they should decide what fuels they should use.

The only problem with hydrogen cell vehicles is the lack of refuelling infrastructure. However, things are slightly improving, with a new hydrogen fuel station opening on the M25 here in the UK and several more in the pipeline.

Hydrogen fuel cells are certainly one of the ways forward and emit zero emissions. Indeed, UK supermarket chain Sainsburys has opened a hydrogen fuel facility on one of their sites.

Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes Makes Debut: This new model from Mercedes will only reinforce interest in this type of alternative fuel.

Of course, there are three major categories of alternative fuels in use now. One that we seem to have forgotten about is biofuels. Also, we have electric power and hydrogen power. Subsequently. We have the electric-battery car versus the hybrid plug-in car debate. For example, a hydrogen fuel cell vs. HHO (which does not appear to be catching on).

Also, biodiesel vs ethanol. In fact, biodiesel fuels are also being made from algae. These alternatives, though, seem to be falling behind. The main emphasis is on the drive for the total electric car (EV).
There are hundreds of videos out now about converting your car to use these other non-viable fuels. However, things in this direction are moving really slowly.


Similar companies exist and sell plans

parts lists, and instructions for converting a car to run on electric power (mostly of the plug-in variety). Books and instructions on how to build biodiesel kits and recipes for growing algae biodiesel are also easy to find online.

Individuals have produced hybrid cars and vehicles running completely on all of these alternative fuel sources. I must admit, though, that in the big picture of things, these are very small numbers. One company sells the instructions and maintains a worldwide support group.

Hence, for people doing their own HHO fuel conversion. So, it was reported that more than 11,000 people bought their product last year.

There’s the difficulty of tracking just who is converting their vehicles and how. The EIA has surveyed private fleet owners. Including quasi-government and local, state, and national government bodies. Thus, to get the basis for their calculations.

There are plenty of automakers, small and large, around the world coming out with different variations of all these cars. Including this new Mercedes model.

Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes Makes Debut – Lithium-Ion May Have a short life?

We do need alternatives. The electric car era will be very short because lithium-ion batteries are made by using “cobalt”. Cobalt is a very rare commodity, and we will soon run out if the current volumes of use are not restricted. We also have had recent developments with the good old fossil-fuelled cars powered by the good old-fashioned lead-acid car battery.

Mazda has developed the first gasoline engine that ignites by compression instead of a spark plug. Also burning much greener with less poisonous emissions. Yet another good step forward?

Mercedes-Benz is putting the finishing touches on a fuel cell version of the GLC ahead of its debut in Frankfurt. We don’t know many details about the car yet, but Mercedes has pulled back the curtain on the development process leading up to its launch.

Source: Mercedes prepares hydrogen plug-in hybrid for Frankfurt debut

See this important breakthrough from our friends in Australia.

Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes
Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes

Mercedes-Benz GLC Fuel Cell – Whatever Happened to Hydrogen Power?

A few years ago, Mercedes-Benz created quite a stir in the motoring world when it announced plans for a hydrogen fuel cell version of the popular GLC SUV. At the time, many industry experts believed hydrogen could become the future of motoring, especially for larger vehicles where battery weight and charging times were becoming a concern.

Back then, the company was putting the finishing touches to the new model ahead of its big unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The motoring press was full of excitement, with promises of clean driving, quick refuelling and long-distance capability. It looked as though hydrogen power might soon become a common sight on British roads.

Fast forward to today, though, and things have not quite turned out the way many expected.

The Mercedes GLC F-Cell Arrives

The vehicle eventually arrived under the name of the Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL. What made it particularly interesting was the fact that it combined two technologies into one vehicle:

  • a hydrogen fuel cell,
  • and a rechargeable battery system.

This meant the car could actually run as both:

  • a plug-in electric vehicle,
  • and a hydrogen-powered vehicle.

At the time, Mercedes described it as one of the world’s first plug-in hydrogen hybrids. Drivers could recharge the battery from the mains for shorter journeys and then use hydrogen fuel for longer trips.

On paper, it sounded like the perfect compromise.

So Why Did Hydrogen Cars Struggle? Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes

The biggest problem was never really the vehicles themselves. In many ways, hydrogen cars are excellent to drive. They are smooth, quiet and produce nothing from the exhaust except water vapour.

The real issue has always been infrastructure.

Unlike petrol stations or electric charging points, hydrogen filling stations are extremely expensive to build and maintain. Even today, there are only a very small number of public hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK.

This made ownership difficult for ordinary motorists.

A customer from the Halifax or Calderdale area, for example, would struggle to find somewhere convenient to refill the hydrogen tanks. That is very different from electric cars, where charging points are now appearing almost everywhere from supermarkets to motorway services.

Electric Cars Took the Lead

Whilst Mercedes and a few other manufacturers were developing hydrogen vehicles, battery electric technology advanced much faster than expected.

Companies such as Tesla helped push the rapid expansion of:

  • battery range,
  • charging speed,
  • and public charging networks.

At the same time, governments across Europe began heavily supporting electric vehicle infrastructure. As a result, most manufacturers shifted investment towards fully electric vehicles instead of hydrogen passenger cars.

Even Mercedes-Benz itself has now focused far more heavily on its EQ range of electric models.

Hydrogen Still Has a Future: Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes

Despite this, hydrogen technology has certainly not disappeared altogether. Many experts still believe hydrogen could play a major role in:

  • heavy goods vehicles,
  • buses,
  • trains,
  • shipping,
  • and industrial transport.

Large vehicles that travel long distances may still benefit from fast hydrogen refuelling rather than lengthy battery charging times.

Here in Yorkshire, we have already seen trials of hydrogen-powered buses and commercial vehicles in certain parts of the country. The technology remains very promising, although widespread public use still seems some way off.

The GLC Fuel Cell Today

The GLC F-CELL itself remained fairly limited in production numbers and was never widely sold in the UK. In many ways, it became more of a technology showcase than a mass-market vehicle.

Still, Mercedes deserves credit for pushing boundaries and experimenting with alternative fuels long before many rivals took the idea seriously.

Looking back now, the GLC fuel cell project represents an interesting moment in motoring history. Manufacturers were trying several different routes towards cleaner transport:

  • diesel hybrids,
  • hydrogen fuel cells,
  • plug-in hybrids,
  • and full battery electric vehicles.

Eventually, battery electric cars became the dominant direction, at least for now.

What Does the Future Hold? Hydrogen Plugin Mercedes

The motor industry is changing faster than ever before. Only a few years ago many experts believed diesel cars would dominate for decades. Then electric vehicles suddenly exploded in popularity.

Hydrogen could still return in a bigger way later on, especially if governments invest more heavily in infrastructure and cleaner hydrogen production.

At Pellon Tyres Halifax, we continue seeing more hybrid and electric vehicles arriving every year for tyres, wheel alignment and servicing work. The technology inside modern cars is advancing at an incredible pace compared with the simpler vehicles many of us grew up with.

One thing is certain, though — the days of relying purely on traditional petrol and diesel engines are slowly changing before our eyes.

 

Cars and Climate Change

Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle unveiled

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Toyota Mirai

Toyota Mirai
© Can Stock Photo /

Toyota Mirai

The Toyota Mirai is an electric-drive, mid-size four-door sedan powered by hydrogen, with a range of up to 300 miles and a refuel time of about f…

This is just another part of the big mix of fuels that will power the cars of the near future.

Hydrogen cells are also the favourite of some car manufacturers. Including Toyota now with the Toyota Mirai and BMW. In my opinion, hydrogen will be available at many filling stations in the future.

Toyota Mirai is one of the leaders in hydrogen cell-fuelled cars

It has come to my attention that there are at least three leading car manufacturers that are heading down the hydrogen fuel road with their cars. I am a keen follower of market trends and the direction that the green way forward is heading, and that includes the battle that is rising between EV vehicles, battery Tec technology, the Hydrogen cell technology.

Apart from Toyota with the Toyota Mirai, the other two players are Hyundai and Honda. Other carmakers have also been involved with Hydrogen including the American giant GM. Apparently GM has been running a test fleet of them for a few years now, but it is the Far Eastern country’s carmakers that are ahead of the field.

Toyota Mirai
Toyota Mirai

There are enemies of hydrogen as well as battery-driven cars

But when the largest car company in the world looks interested in something, then it is time to sit up and take note. Toyota is a very experienced and successful manufacturer of cars and has made over 5,600 fuel cell-related patents available. Toyota has started off the motion for hydrogen-powered cars to make it to market at a faster pace.

The inclusion of the auto industry is of particular import to Japan.

Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are key contributors to Japan’s economy, and the industry together accounts for 10% of the national workforce and 20% of exports. To me it is a good thing that Japan is thinking about supporting the home industry, and developing these new products will bring stability to the home workforce.

It does have to make these technologies available to us all eventually to comply with European and American laws, but I think that the Japanese are thinking about this when they free off the patents for the new technology cars.

The scrap between battery power and hydrogen is on.

Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. So, for instance, electric cars only require plug-in stations. Of course, to be recharged. Significantly, the hydrogen cars will require a network of filling station locations. However, this will mean that they could just be added to the existing gas stations all over the world.

Both cars can claim to have zero emissions.

But the lithium-ion cars are recharged by “dirty” coal-fired power stations. So they are not as green as people think. Especially in countries like China! So, the hydrogen car only emits water, so until the power supplies are greener, the hydrogen car wins there.

At the time of writing this post. Both cars are getting about the same mileage! Subsequently, both types of cars are still very expensive to buy. Hydrogen cars can be refuelled the same as a gas engine. While the battery car has to be charged up over a long period. Although scientists are working on a faster-charged battery all the time,.

Only time will tell which idea brings the most success, but you have to admit that it is interesting times that us auto guys live in.

2025 Update

Hydrogen vs EV – Could Hydrogen Cars Really Work Here in the UK?

Following on from the earlier look at hydrogen-powered cars like the Toyota Mirai, I thought it would be useful to dig a bit deeper into how hydrogen might fit into everyday motoring here in the UK — and more importantly, what it might mean for drivers around towns like Halifax over the next decade.

We all know the government keeps pushing the electric-only route, but the truth is that the future of motoring isn’t settled at all. You’ve got battery EVs racing ahead in sales, yes — but at the same time, hydrogen technology is quietly gaining pace, especially among the big Japanese and Korean brands who tend to think long-term rather than hype-driven.

Why Hydrogen Might Suit British Roads Better Than Many Think

Plenty of drivers are starting to question whether battery-only EVs really suit our infrastructure. Long charging times, queues at chargers, and the simple fact that many people around Halifax live in older terraced properties or flats with no off-street parking make charging a nightmare.

Hydrogen, on the other hand, has big advantages:

  • Fast refuelling – roughly the same time as filling a petrol tank
  • Longer range compared to many EVs
  • Lighter vehicles, because hydrogen fuel cells don’t weigh as much as big lithium batteries
  • Cleaner power, with only water vapour coming from the exhaust

In many ways, hydrogen fits more closely with how people actually use cars today — quick fill-ups, longer trips, and no waiting around for hours at a charger.

Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota – The Far Eastern Push Forward

As mentioned in your original piece, Toyota isn’t alone. Hyundai and Honda are deep into hydrogen research, and in typical fashion, they’re playing the long game. Toyota Mirai, has already reached its second generation, Hyundai has the Nexo, and Honda has experimented with both the Clarity Fuel Cell and several commercial hydrogen platforms.

These companies aren’t just tinkering — they’re investing billions because they believe batteries alone won’t meet global demand.

Meanwhile, over in the USA, GM is working with hydrogen for military and commercial vehicles. The American market often leads with pickup trucks and heavy-duty vehicles, and hydrogen suits those far better than giant battery packs.

But the real innovation still seems to come from Japan and Korea. They’ve always had a knack for building technology that lasts — look how long Toyota hybrids have been running around Halifax without missing a beat!

Could Hydrogen Work in Towns Like Halifax? Toyota Mirai

Honestly, yes — if the infrastructure arrives.

Hydrogen refuelling is still rare in the UK, but the few stations we do have prove the technology works perfectly well in British weather and terrain. Halifax, being hilly and often cold, is exactly the type of environment where hydrogen has an advantage over heavy battery EVs struggling with winter range.

Imagine being able to pull into a station near the Calder Valley, fill up in five minutes, and head straight off again — no messing, no apps, no cables across the pavement.

It’s very similar to how we treat petrol and diesel cars now, which is probably why many drivers feel more comfortable with the idea.

Why Toyota Keep Betting on Hydrogen: Toyota Mirai

Toyota has always been cautious about fully committing to battery EVs. Instead, they produce:

  • Petrol cars
  • Hybrids
  • Plug-in hybrids
  • Hydrogen cars

They’re spreading their bets, and hydrogen is a big part of their long-term vision. The Mirai isn’t just a science experiment — it’s a proper production car that already has loyal owners.

Toyota knows something the rest of the world is slowly discovering:

There isn’t going to be one single solution to replace petrol and diesel—we’re going to need a mix.

Hydrogen, hybrids, and improved batteries will all have a part to play.