Mercedes Introduces Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Concept SUV

LOS ANGELES – Mercedes-Benz claimed the spotlight at the auto show here this week with a burst of raw energy as it debuts its off-road-capable Ener-G-Force, a police-use version of the auto maker’s G-Class line developed for the show’s Los Angeles Design Challenge, a competition among OEMs.

The hydrogen-powered vehicle only emits water, according to the auto maker, and has a range of 500 miles (805 km). A rooftop converter stores the water and converts it to energy to operate the SUV’s hydrogen fuel cells.

Outfitted with minimal glass for protection, the Ener-G-Force boasts a front end that demands attention. The vehicle’s light-emitting-diode headlamps were made in the form of “Gs.” What looks like a spare-wheel compartment actually opens into a safety kit, toolbox and other survival equipment.

Stephen Cannon, Mercedes-Benz USA president and CEO, introduces the concept with the suggestion, “It wouldn’t be an auto show if we didn’t give you a little glimpse of the future, a glimpse of what some of our product gurus dream about every single day.”

Taking cues from the original G-Class design, the Ener-G-Force has a flat roof, upright fascia and oversized wheel arches accommodating 20-in. wheels and ultra-all-terrain tires.

“We’ve got the broadest SUV portfolio in the business, the G, the GL, the GLK and the ML models,” says Cannon. “So, in the world’s largest SUV market, it’s important that we continue to push the boundaries of what an SUV should be.”

Besides the roof-mounted water tank, the vehicle has a roof-mounted 360-degree topography scanner. The “Terra-Scan” technology studies the geography ahead of the unit and automatically adjusts the suspension accordingly to enable smooth driving, no matter where the Ener-G-Force ends up.

“Simply put,” says Cannon, “it’s as green as it is capable.”