Mercedes is looking to hydrogen as the next big fuel with models like the B-Class F-CELL and the Citaro FuelCELL-hybrid having already clocked more than seven million miles in testing runs. Now, Mercedes is introduction the GLC F-CELL, the world’s first plug-in fuel-cell vehicle and one that has a combined range of 310 miles between hydrogen refills.

The F-CELL has the same dimensions as the standard GLC-Class, but it takes on some aesthetic cues of its own. Up front, the same Mercedes Mercedes grille sits ahead of the nose with its double-louver appearance and honeycomb mesh. Down below, the air dam has a gray trim insert that surrounds it and honeycomb mesh inside. The air inlet in each corner also carries over and sports the honeycomb mesh as well. The headlight units look to be the same but are outlined with a light blue color that clearly symbolizes its water-derived hydrogen-powered nature. The blue outline can also be seen at the bottom of the fascia.


Mercedes hasn’t released any information regarding the interior, but we know that the new fuel-cell system is now 30 percent more compact that anything else on the market, which means the entire drive system can be housed under the hood where a traditional internal combustion engine would normally reside. That being the case, it’s safe to assume that the cabin of the F-CELL will be identical to that of the standard GLC. This means you’ll see the plus cabin with two-tone upholstery, a large infotainment display perched on the center stack, Mercedes’ latest instrument cluster, a simplified dash and center console, and a flat bottom steering wheel.

To date, Mercedes hasn’t released an incredible amount of information about this new GLC F-CELL, but we do know that it features two carbon-fiber-encased hydrogen tanks that only take a few minutes to fill up, and the onboard battery can be charged via a standard 120-volt wall socket, a Mercedes-Benz wall box, or a public charging station. Furthermore, that onboard battery is also charged on the fly via an energy recuperation system that kicks in during braking and coasting.


According to Mercedes’ recent press release, the model will be launched in 2017, which means it should be available in areas where hydrogen fueling stations are available. Of course, there won’t be much for competition at this time, but Mercedes will take pride in setting up shop before the market explodes with production models from every other manufacturer.