How Mercedes-benz Is Testing A Hydrogen Combustion Engine Vehicle

Mercedes-Benz is known for its innovation and excellence in the automotive industry. But did you know that it is also leading the way in developing hydrogen-powered vehicles that are more sustainable and efficient than conventional ones?

In this article, you will learn about the Unimog prototype, a hydrogen combustion engine vehicle that Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks is testing in an intensive mowing operation. You will also discover the benefits and challenges of using hydrogen as a fuel and how Mercedes-Benz is contributing to the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

What is the Mercedes-Benz Unimog Prototype?

The Mercedes-Benz Unimog prototype is a special-purpose vehicle that is designed to perform various tasks in challenging terrain and conditions. It is based on the Unimog U 5023, a model that belongs to the highly off-road capable Unimog series that has been in production since 2013.

The Unimog prototype is equipped with a hydrogen combustion engine, which means it uses hydrogen gas instead of diesel or gasoline. The hydrogen gas is stored in a high-pressure tank at the vehicle's rear and fed into the engine through a fuel injector. The engine then burns the hydrogen with oxygen from the air, producing water vapor and nitrogen oxide as the only exhaust emissions.

The Unimog prototype has a power output of 230 kW and a torque of 1000 Nm. It can reach a top speed of 90 km/h and a range of 500 km on a single hydrogen tank. It also has a hydrostatic drive, which allows it to adjust its speed and power independently of the engine speed, and a portal axle, which gives it a high ground clearance and a low center of gravity.

The Unimog prototype is currently undergoing a field test in the Swabian Alps, a mountain range in southern Germany. It is being used for mowing operations along the roadsides and embankments, which require high maneuverability and stability. The test is part of a research project called H2Mog, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and supported by several partners from the industry and academia.

The H2Mog project aims to evaluate the performance and suitability of the Unimog prototype for various applications and scenarios and to compare it with conventional diesel-powered vehicles in terms of efficiency, emissions, noise, and maintenance. The project also seeks to identify the potential and challenges of using hydrogen as a fuel for special-purpose vehicles and to provide recommendations and guidelines for future development and deployment.

Why is Hydrogen a Promising Fuel for the Future?

Hydrogen is considered to be a clean and renewable energy source that can help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and lower the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming and climate change. Hydrogen has several advantages over conventional fuels, such as:

• Hydrogen has a high energy density, which means that it can store more energy per unit of mass than other fuels. This makes it suitable for long-range and high-power output applications, such as heavy-duty vehicles and aircraft.
• Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of sources, such as water, natural gas, biomass, and renewable electricity. This makes it a flexible and versatile fuel that can be adapted to different regions and markets.
• Hydrogen can be used in different ways, such as fuel cells, combustion engines, and turbines. This makes it a compatible and complementary fuel that can be integrated with existing and emerging technologies and infrastructures.
• Hydrogen produces zero carbon emissions when used in fuel cells and minimal emissions when used in combustion engines. This makes it a sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel that can help achieve the global goals of reducing carbon footprint and improving air quality.

However, hydrogen also faces some challenges and barriers that need to be overcome before it can become a mainstream and widely adopted fuel, such as:

• Hydrogen is more expensive to produce, store, and transport than conventional fuels. This is due to the high costs of the equipment, materials, and processes involved and the lack of economies of scale and market incentives.
• Hydrogen is more difficult to handle, distribute, and use than conventional fuels. This is due to the low density, high flammability, and high pressure of hydrogen gas, which require special safety measures and technical standards.
• Hydrogen is scarce in terms of availability, accessibility, and reliability compared to conventional fuels. This is due to the limited number and capacity of the production facilities, storage facilities, and refueling stations, as well as the intermittent and variable nature of some of the renewable sources.

How is Mercedes-Benz Contributing to the Hydrogen Economy?

Mercedes-Benz is one of the pioneers and leaders in developing and deploying hydrogen-powered vehicles. It has been investing in hydrogen technology for decades and has launched several models and prototypes that use hydrogen as a fuel, such as:

• The NECAR (New Electric Car) series was the first vehicle to use hydrogen-powered fuel cells. The first NECAR was introduced in 1994, and the latest NECAR 5 was launched in 2000.
• The F-Cell series was the first vehicle to use fuel cells integrated into the vehicle body. The first F-Cell was introduced in 2002, and the latest F-Cell was launched in 2018.
• The GLC F-Cell was the first vehicle to use a hybrid system combining fuel cells and batteries. The GLC F-Cell was introduced in 2017 and has a range of 478 km on hydrogen and 49 km on electricity.
• The GenH2 Truck which is a heavy-duty truck that uses a fuel cell powered by liquid hydrogen. The GenH2 Truck was introduced in 2020 and has a range of 1000 km on a single tank of hydrogen.
• The Unimog prototype is a special-purpose vehicle that uses a hydrogen combustion engine. The Unimog prototype was introduced in 2021 and has a range of 500 km on a single tank of hydrogen.

Mercedes-Benz is also involved in several initiatives and collaborations that aim to promote and support the hydrogen economy, such as:

• The H2 Mobility initiative, which is a joint venture between six companies, including Mercedes-Benz, aims to build a nationwide network of hydrogen refueling stations in Germany. The initiative was founded in 2015 and has already opened more than 90 stations across the country.
• The Hydrogen Council is a global coalition of more than 100 companies, including Mercedes-Benz, that aims to accelerate the transition to hydrogen as a key solution for the energy transition. The coalition was founded in 2017 and has committed to invest more than $80 billion in hydrogen projects by 2030.
• The H2Accelerate project, which is a collaboration between four truck manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, and three energy companies, aims to create the conditions for mass-market roll-out of hydrogen trucks in Europe. The project was launched in 2020 and plans to deploy up to 10,000 hydrogen trucks and 300 hydrogen refueling stations by 2030.

Conclusion

Mercedes-Benz is a visionary and a trailblazer in the field of hydrogen-powered vehicles. It has demonstrated its commitment and capability to develop and deploy innovative and efficient vehicles that use hydrogen as a fuel, such as the Unimog prototype. It has also shown its leadership and collaboration to support and advance the hydrogen economy through various initiatives and partnerships.

Hydrogen is a promising and potential fuel for the future, as it offers many benefits and opportunities for the automotive industry and society at large. However, hydrogen also faces many challenges and obstacles that need to be addressed and overcome through concerted and coordinated efforts from all stakeholders.

Mercedes-Benz plays a vital and active role in shaping and driving the hydrogen transition and paving the way for a hydrogen-powered future. @via Panorica - Hybrid and Electric Cars.