The Mercedes-Benz F 600 HYGENIUS is a research vehicle which points the way to the future with its exceptional design, a cold-start-capable, emission-free and economical fuel-cell drive system, a flexible seating concept, a rear vision system and virtual displays which are particularly easy on the eye.
The F 600 HYGENIUS is powered by the most effective fuel-cell drive system yet developed. Thanks to the practical experience and know-how of some 150 scientists and engineers, its fuel cells are about 40 percent smaller than previous designs and are able to withstand extreme cold without any performance degradation. It has a range of at least 400 kilometres and its consumption of hydrogen is equivalent in energy terms to 2.9 litres of diesel per 100 km. The F 600 is another important milestone on the way to production maturity for fuel-cell technology – a goal which Mercedes-Benz aims to achieve between 2012 and 2015. Mercedes-Benz can already call on over two million kilometres of practical experience with 100 near-series fuel-cell vehicles.
The hydrogen-powered proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) points the way to a future with a guaranteed energy source. Hydrogen is the most commonly occurring chemical element and can also be generated from renewable resources without any ecological impact. PEM fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity highly efficiently, the only "exhaust emission" being pure water. In the opinion of the experts, hydrogen is the fuel with the greatest potential for the future.
The F 600 HYGENIUS also opens up new uses for fuel-cell vehicles: a 110/220 V power socket in the tailgate makes it possible for work or party lighting, electric tools, a refrigerator, an electric grill, a TV, computer or any other pieces of electrical equipment to be connected up. Moreover, the 66 kilowatt output of the four fuel-cell stacks (each of which consists of 100 fuel cells) would be sufficient to supply several houses with electricity.
The four-door F 600 also sets new standards with regard to comfort and interior flexibility. The accommodation provided by the compact body, which is only 4.35 metres long, is characterised by space and key comfort dimensions superior to those of exclusive luxury saloons.
A special feature of the driver's seat is the two-part backrest cushion which can be adjusted for height, width and inclination by means of electric motors in order to match the shape of the driver's body perfectly and to provide excellent support at waist level in particular.
A number of unprecedented design solutions make the F 600 a perfect family car. In addition to their fore/aft and lateral adjustment features, the driver and front-passenger seats are equipped with reversible backrests which can be swung forward to create a backward-facing seating position which allows child seats with a standard attachment system to be locked into place.
Video cameras in the exterior mirrors monitor the blind spots while the vehicle is moving and improve safety for alighting passengers when the vehicle is stationary: if another road user is approaching, a warning symbol is displayed in the mirror and the doors are briefly prevented from being opened.
The issues surrounding the way in which people interact with technology are also addressed by the F 600 which serves as an object lesson in the optimisation of the "Human-Machine Interface". The result is an operating concept which is easy, safe and intuitive to use, and which maximises driver information while minimising driver distraction.
In another first for the F 600, the two colour displays in the dashboard address the issue of eye accommodation, the adjustment which the eyes have to make when switching between looking at close-up objects, such as the cockpit instruments, and more distant ones, such as other traffic. The virtual instrument displays are enlarged and are projected to appear at a point 1.40 metres ahead of the driver, thereby reducing strain on the eyes.
