The Mercedes F600 HYGENIUS made its debut at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show being an advanced and fully functioning concept designed to showcase Mercedes latest technology in the field of hydrogen fuel cells.
“This represents a major step towards bringing the fuel cell drive up to full production maturity, a goal that we aim to achieve sometime between 2012 and 2015,” remarks Dr. Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler AG Board Member for Research & Technology and Head of Development at the Mercedes Car Group. “By developing the fuel cell, we are creating a new basis for supplying energy in tomorrow’s vehicles which will make a further lasting improvement to their environmental compatibility.”
The Mercedes-Benz F 600 Hygenius achieves a maximum power output of 85 kW/115 hp combined with a peak torque of 350 Newton metres. The fuel cell drive alone generates a constant power output of 60 kW/82 hp and a torque of 250 Newton metres. With any surplus energy being stored in a powerful lithium-ion battery, the system acts in a similar fashion to a hybrid drive, selecting the best power source to use depending on the driving situation. When parking or maneuvering, for instance, the electric motor draws its power from the battery alone, while both fuel cell and battery feed it with energy in unison when the vehicle is accelerating. The electric motor doubles as a generator that charges the battery during vehicle braking by recuperating drive energy.
Mobile power station supplies energy both at home and away
As well as generating clean energy to drive the research vehicle, the fuel cell can also serve as a mobile power source: its 66 kW of electrical power would be quite sufficient to keep several detached houses supplied with power.
Passengers aboard the Mercedes-Benz F 600 Hygenius also stand to benefit from its extraordinary energy reserves: the cup holders which use electrical power from the fuel cell to keep drinks chilled or hot are just one example of this. The fuel cell’s energy also allows electrical devices to be operated anywhere at the standard voltage level – following onboard conversion – granting the occupants total independence from the mains network on family outings or business trips. All they have to do is connect the device to a power socket in the tailgate.
Compact-class car boasting luxury-class spaciousness
The four-door Mercedes-Benz F 600 Hygenius also makes a mark for itself when it comes to comfort and versatility. Despite the body’s compact length of just 4348 millimeters, the levels of space inside are impressive, even by luxury-class standards. The distance between the front and rear seats – a useful indicator of the freedom of movement and spaciousness – measures 945 millimeters, and can be extended by up to a further 400 millimeters thanks to the sliding design of the individual rear seats. This puts the research vehicle’s comfort dimensions on a par with those found in exclusive luxury saloons.
Seating concept offering families the versatility they are looking for
A host of ingenious design solutions make the F 600 Hygenius an ideal family car. Take the child and family-friendly design of the seats, for example: the front passenger seat and the individual seats in the rear incorporate a new technology allowing the backrest to be used either way around. The backrests can be swung forwards and reversed in such a way that ISOFIX child seats can be locked into place on the seat cushions in a rearwards-facing position. The face-to-face seating arrangement boosts safety at the same time as making it easier to attend to young children en route, with the additional fore-aft and crossways adjustment of the rear seats allowing infants to be reached easily from the nearside rear seat.
Mercedes-Benz has devised a revolutionary new seat for the driver featuring a two-piece backrest cushion that follows the upper body movements and minimises the strain on the intervertebral discs, regardless of the seat position. If, for instance, the driver tilts the seat further back, the lower section of the backrest cushioning automatically pivots forwards to support the pelvic area.
Video cameras for leaving the vehicle and changing lane safely
Cameras integrated into the housings of the exterior mirrors keep an eye on traffic to the side of and behind the Mercedes-Benz F 600 Hygenius, even when it is parked. If another car or a bicycle is approaching from behind, the system will automatically disable the doors for a brief period to avoid the risk of a collision when they are opened. Out on the road, the video system monitors the blind spot of both exterior mirrors and warns drivers about to change lane if a vehicle is approaching from behind.
Space-saving opening mechanisms for doors and tailgate
The tailgate of the F 600 Hygenius has a two-piece design offering maximum practicality. If space is at a premium, the tailgate’s lower section is automatically folded inwards so that the tailgate swings through a much tighter arc as it opens. As this is happening, the rear bumper drops down, pulling out the floor plate of the luggage compartment at the same time to simplify loading. The front doors of the latest Mercedes research vehicle also boast a technology that is designed to make getting into and out of the vehicle as easy and convenient as possible when parked in tight spaces: the doors swing upwards at a slant, meaning that they take up less space to the side when opening than conventional car doors.
Two-level operating concept with sophisticated new user recognition facility
In order to allow the vast multitude of functions to be operated quickly, intuitively and, most importantly, safely, the engineers at Mercedes have devise a concept based on the proven operating principle used in the new Mercedes-Benz S Class. This concept helps to minimise driver distraction, which in turn benefits driving safety. As in the Mercedes flagship model, buttons in a control panel in the middle of the dashboard serve to operate the most commonly used systems, such as the radio, air conditioning, car phone and navigation. These buttons can be easily reached by both the driver and the front passenger.
The push/turn control knob in the centre of the control panel can automatically detect whether it is being operated by the driver or the front passenger, enabling both to program their personal climate control settings. This intelligent user recognition facility is based on the electrical signals transmitted in the skin: the instant the front passenger touches the push/turn control knob in the centre, a data circuit closes between the control knob and a sensor mat in the seat cushion, switching the display to the settings for the front passenger side.
For advanced operating functions, the COMAND controller developed for the new S-Class extends out of the armrest between the front seats and allows straightforward navigation through the COMAND system’s control menus.
Virtual displays for fast vision adjustment
The images on both high-resolution colour displays in the dashboard are diverted by means of two mirrors before being projected to appear at a point 1.40 metres in front of the driver. This leading-edge virtual display technology from Mercedes-Benz represents a key improvement to driver-fitness safety as it shortens the time required for drivers to switch their gaze from what’s taking place on the road far ahead to the close-up instrument cluster display. Scientific studies have confirmed that, with this technology, the driver’s eyes do not have to constantly adjust between close and long range so they do not tire as quickly.
High-power light-emitting diodes for all lighting functions
Headlamps with high-power LEDs enhance the driver’s night-time vision and help to avoid accidents. The LEDs are distributed over three projector modules: the light module in the centre is activated as required, depending on the driving situation, and also assumes additional functions, such as main beam, the Active Light System and the cornering light. All of the various lighting features are performed simply by switching individual LEDs on and off electronically, thereby eliminating the need for moving components, such as those currently fitted for the Active Light System.
Preventive PRE-SAFE® system with knee bolster plus new head restraints
The preventive occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®, which was first premiered in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in 2002, will continue to be expanded by Mercedes engineers in future. Two additional anticipatory protective functions have been incorporated aboard the F 600 Hygenius: active knee protection to brace the front passenger plus head restraints with automatically extending side bolsters to hold the head still. These new features are triggered together with the other PRE-SAFE® measures prior to an impending accident, to prepare both occupants and vehicle for a collision.
Despite its compact 4.35-metre-long body, the space inside the four-door F 600 HYGenius surpasses the dimensions conventionally found in the luxury class. The distance between the front and rear seats is a generous 95 centimeters and can be increased by up to 40 centimeters by moving the individual rear seats further back. With its host of well-thought-out details, the F 600 HYGENIUS is a perfect family car. The seats, for instance, are designed to match the needs of children and families. Thanks to a new design, both sides of the back of the front passenger and single rear seats can be used. Moving the seat forward allows a rear-facing ISOFIX child’s seat to be engaged. This face-to-face seating arrangement enhances children’s safety and makes it easier to keep an eye on them. The driver’s seat features two-part backrest padding, whose height, width and angle can be precisely adjusted to the driver’s body shape by means of electric motors. It therefore offers firm support, especially at waist height. The backrest is mounted to follow the movements of the upper body, thereby reducing the strain on the spinal discs in every seating position.
Technical Highlights
Further developed fuel cell hybrid drive
Start-of-production at the end of 2009 in the Mercedes-Benz B Class F-CELL
Interior appointments and seats matched to the needs of families
Driver’s seat with automatic adjustment to body contours and sophisticated support of spinal discs
Two-part boot-lid for maximum variability
Space-saving front doors which swivel upwards
High-performance light-emitting diodes for all light functions
Novel sensors for steering, clutch, brakes, doors, seat and mirror adjustment – Production launch under the name knee-bag in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009, W 212 series)
Video cameras for risk-free alighting and safe lane changes
Innovative operating concept with virtual display
Revised COMAND system for even easier operation
8. The C111 design study was originally baptized , the C101 project. However, the “0 (zero)” in the middle had to disappear , since this number combination has long been protected by....
May 7 2014
2005 Mercedes-Benz F600 HYGenius
The Mercedes F600 HYGENIUS made its debut at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show being an advanced and fully functioning concept designed to showcase Mercedes latest technology in the field of hydrogen fuel cells.
“This represents a major step towards bringing the fuel cell drive up to full production maturity, a goal that we aim to achieve sometime between 2012 and 2015,” remarks Dr. Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler AG Board Member for Research & Technology and Head of Development at the Mercedes Car Group. “By developing the fuel cell, we are creating a new basis for supplying energy in tomorrow’s vehicles which will make a further lasting improvement to their environmental compatibility.”
The Mercedes-Benz F 600 Hygenius achieves a maximum power output of 85 kW/115 hp combined with a peak torque of 350 Newton metres. The fuel cell drive alone generates a constant power output of 60 kW/82 hp and a torque of 250 Newton metres. With any surplus energy being stored in a powerful lithium-ion battery, the system acts in a similar fashion to a hybrid drive, selecting the best power source to use depending on the driving situation. When parking or maneuvering, for instance, the electric motor draws its power from the battery alone, while both fuel cell and battery feed it with energy in unison when the vehicle is accelerating. The electric motor doubles as a generator that charges the battery during vehicle braking by recuperating drive energy.
Mobile power station supplies energy both at home and away
As well as generating clean energy to drive the research vehicle, the fuel cell can also serve as a mobile power source: its 66 kW of electrical power would be quite sufficient to keep several detached houses supplied with power.
Passengers aboard the Mercedes-Benz F 600 Hygenius also stand to benefit from its extraordinary energy reserves: the cup holders which use electrical power from the fuel cell to keep drinks chilled or hot are just one example of this. The fuel cell’s energy also allows electrical devices to be operated anywhere at the standard voltage level – following onboard conversion – granting the occupants total independence from the mains network on family outings or business trips. All they have to do is connect the device to a power socket in the tailgate.
Compact-class car boasting luxury-class spaciousness
The four-door Mercedes-Benz F 600 Hygenius also makes a mark for itself when it comes to comfort and versatility. Despite the body’s compact length of just 4348 millimeters, the levels of space inside are impressive, even by luxury-class standards. The distance between the front and rear seats – a useful indicator of the freedom of movement and spaciousness – measures 945 millimeters, and can be extended by up to a further 400 millimeters thanks to the sliding design of the individual rear seats. This puts the research vehicle’s comfort dimensions on a par with those found in exclusive luxury saloons.
Seating concept offering families the versatility they are looking for
A host of ingenious design solutions make the F 600 Hygenius an ideal family car. Take the child and family-friendly design of the seats, for example: the front passenger seat and the individual seats in the rear incorporate a new technology allowing the backrest to be used either way around. The backrests can be swung forwards and reversed in such a way that ISOFIX child seats can be locked into place on the seat cushions in a rearwards-facing position. The face-to-face seating arrangement boosts safety at the same time as making it easier to attend to young children en route, with the additional fore-aft and crossways adjustment of the rear seats allowing infants to be reached easily from the nearside rear seat.
Mercedes-Benz has devised a revolutionary new seat for the driver featuring a two-piece backrest cushion that follows the upper body movements and minimises the strain on the intervertebral discs, regardless of the seat position. If, for instance, the driver tilts the seat further back, the lower section of the backrest cushioning automatically pivots forwards to support the pelvic area.
Video cameras for leaving the vehicle and changing lane safely
Cameras integrated into the housings of the exterior mirrors keep an eye on traffic to the side of and behind the Mercedes-Benz F 600 Hygenius, even when it is parked. If another car or a bicycle is approaching from behind, the system will automatically disable the doors for a brief period to avoid the risk of a collision when they are opened. Out on the road, the video system monitors the blind spot of both exterior mirrors and warns drivers about to change lane if a vehicle is approaching from behind.
Space-saving opening mechanisms for doors and tailgate
The tailgate of the F 600 Hygenius has a two-piece design offering maximum practicality. If space is at a premium, the tailgate’s lower section is automatically folded inwards so that the tailgate swings through a much tighter arc as it opens. As this is happening, the rear bumper drops down, pulling out the floor plate of the luggage compartment at the same time to simplify loading. The front doors of the latest Mercedes research vehicle also boast a technology that is designed to make getting into and out of the vehicle as easy and convenient as possible when parked in tight spaces: the doors swing upwards at a slant, meaning that they take up less space to the side when opening than conventional car doors.
Two-level operating concept with sophisticated new user recognition facility
In order to allow the vast multitude of functions to be operated quickly, intuitively and, most importantly, safely, the engineers at Mercedes have devise a concept based on the proven operating principle used in the new Mercedes-Benz S Class. This concept helps to minimise driver distraction, which in turn benefits driving safety. As in the Mercedes flagship model, buttons in a control panel in the middle of the dashboard serve to operate the most commonly used systems, such as the radio, air conditioning, car phone and navigation. These buttons can be easily reached by both the driver and the front passenger.
The push/turn control knob in the centre of the control panel can automatically detect whether it is being operated by the driver or the front passenger, enabling both to program their personal climate control settings. This intelligent user recognition facility is based on the electrical signals transmitted in the skin: the instant the front passenger touches the push/turn control knob in the centre, a data circuit closes between the control knob and a sensor mat in the seat cushion, switching the display to the settings for the front passenger side.
For advanced operating functions, the COMAND controller developed for the new S-Class extends out of the armrest between the front seats and allows straightforward navigation through the COMAND system’s control menus.
Virtual displays for fast vision adjustment
The images on both high-resolution colour displays in the dashboard are diverted by means of two mirrors before being projected to appear at a point 1.40 metres in front of the driver. This leading-edge virtual display technology from Mercedes-Benz represents a key improvement to driver-fitness safety as it shortens the time required for drivers to switch their gaze from what’s taking place on the road far ahead to the close-up instrument cluster display. Scientific studies have confirmed that, with this technology, the driver’s eyes do not have to constantly adjust between close and long range so they do not tire as quickly.
High-power light-emitting diodes for all lighting functions
Headlamps with high-power LEDs enhance the driver’s night-time vision and help to avoid accidents. The LEDs are distributed over three projector modules: the light module in the centre is activated as required, depending on the driving situation, and also assumes additional functions, such as main beam, the Active Light System and the cornering light. All of the various lighting features are performed simply by switching individual LEDs on and off electronically, thereby eliminating the need for moving components, such as those currently fitted for the Active Light System.
Preventive PRE-SAFE® system with knee bolster plus new head restraints
The preventive occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®, which was first premiered in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in 2002, will continue to be expanded by Mercedes engineers in future. Two additional anticipatory protective functions have been incorporated aboard the F 600 Hygenius: active knee protection to brace the front passenger plus head restraints with automatically extending side bolsters to hold the head still. These new features are triggered together with the other PRE-SAFE® measures prior to an impending accident, to prepare both occupants and vehicle for a collision.
Despite its compact 4.35-metre-long body, the space inside the four-door F 600 HYGenius surpasses the dimensions conventionally found in the luxury class. The distance between the front and rear seats is a generous 95 centimeters and can be increased by up to 40 centimeters by moving the individual rear seats further back. With its host of well-thought-out details, the F 600 HYGENIUS is a perfect family car. The seats, for instance, are designed to match the needs of children and families. Thanks to a new design, both sides of the back of the front passenger and single rear seats can be used. Moving the seat forward allows a rear-facing ISOFIX child’s seat to be engaged. This face-to-face seating arrangement enhances children’s safety and makes it easier to keep an eye on them. The driver’s seat features two-part backrest padding, whose height, width and angle can be precisely adjusted to the driver’s body shape by means of electric motors. It therefore offers firm support, especially at waist height. The backrest is mounted to follow the movements of the upper body, thereby reducing the strain on the spinal discs in every seating position.
Technical Highlights
Further developed fuel cell hybrid drive
Start-of-production at the end of 2009 in the Mercedes-Benz B Class F-CELL
Interior appointments and seats matched to the needs of families
Driver’s seat with automatic adjustment to body contours and sophisticated support of spinal discs
Two-part boot-lid for maximum variability
Space-saving front doors which swivel upwards
High-performance light-emitting diodes for all light functions
Novel sensors for steering, clutch, brakes, doors, seat and mirror adjustment – Production launch under the name knee-bag in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009, W 212 series)
Video cameras for risk-free alighting and safe lane changes
Innovative operating concept with virtual display
Revised COMAND system for even easier operation
By PaRaDoX • F Concepts 0 • Tags: 2005 mercedesmercedes benz concept, Mercedes-Benz HYGenius