US: DaimlerChrysler introduces world's first fuel cell-powered fire fighting vehicle
Thursday, January 25, 2007, AutomotiveWorld.com
DaimlerChrysler has introduced a zero emission fuel cell car for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Service, built on a Mercedes-Benz F-Cell platform, to be used as a supervisor's vehicle.
DaimlerChrysler claims that the Fire Service Mercedes-Benz F-Cell is the first fuel cell-powered fire fighter vehicle in the world.
The F-Cell, which is a modified first generation A-Class hatchback (a car that was not sold in the US), has a range of about 100 miles and a top speed of 85mph. The electric motor offers 88hp (65 kW) and enables acceleration from 0-60mph in a claimed 16 seconds. The complete fuel cell system is located in the floor of the F-Cell vehicle.
Ballard Power Systems supplied the fuel cell stack.
The F-Cell fire fighter vehicle will be refueled at the BP Energy hydrogen refueling station at the California Fuel Cell Partnership. According to the company, operating the vehicle will provide valuable data for further development of fuel cell technology.
The new fuel cell-powered fire fighter joins the first fuel cell-powered police car, built by DaimlerChrysler, which operates in Michigan with the Wayne State University Police Department. DaimlerChrysler says these two vehicles are the world's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered emergency response vehicles.
DaimlerChrysler has spent over US$1bn on fuel cell vehicle research and development. The company's fuel cell vehicle fleet includes medium-duty Dodge Sprinter vans and over 35 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses operating in Europe, the US, Japan, Australia and Singapore.
Published on Thursday, January 25, 2007
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