Mercedes F-Cell Roadster Concept By Daimler’s Trainees
Mercedes-Benz has presented the F-Cell Roadster Concept, a special model with fuel cell drive. The F-Cell Roadster Concept is created by trainees of Daimler at the Sindelfingen production facility. More than 150 students from multiple sectors, including automotive mechatronics, model-building, coating technology, electronics, manufacturing mechanics, interior appointments and product design were involved in this project.
The F-Cell Roadster’s appearance is just like the past historical cars with large spoked wheels, with carbon-fiber bucket seats with hand-stitched leather covers and styled fiberglass front section, similar to the parts found on Formula One racing cars.
It is interesting car because you will not find the steering wheel. The car is equipped with a joystick mounted on the dashboard as controller. Mercedes F-Cell Roadster is powered by a fuel cell system mounted in the back. It produces 1.2 kW (1.6 hp) with free emission which give the top speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph) and range of f 350 km (217.4 miles). It is slow but surely.
Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster – trainees build a car of the future
- Young people unite high tech and tradition
- Alternative drive systems as a training topic
In a hitherto unique project bridging various fields of profession, the trainees of Daimler AG at the Sindelfingen Mercedes-Benz plant have built a Roadster with fuel cell drive. For about a year, more than 150 trainees and dual education system students worked on the overall concept, development, assembly, and completion of the F-CELL Roadster. This project involved junior employees from the fields of automotive mechatronics, model-building, electronics, coating technology, manufacturing mechanics, product design, and interior appointments. The prime objective of the project was to integrate the topic of alternative drive systems into training with hands-on experience.
“This project impressively demonstrates that the topic of sustainable mobility has become an integral part of our vocational training,” said Human Resources Board member and Labor Relations Manager Günther Fleig. “I am delighted to see how much initiative and creativity the young people have put into this project.”
Tradition meets the future
The F-CELL Roadster uniquely combines state-of-the-art technologies with the history of vehicle construction. As an allusion to the Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886, the vehicle is fitted with large spoked wheels. Moreover, the F-CELL Roadster incorporates stylistic elements from diverse eras of automotive history, such as the carbon-fiber bucket seats with hand-stitched leather covers and the distinctively styled fiberglass front section, based on the component from the Formula One racing bolides.
The F-CELL Roadster is controlled with drive-by-wire technology, and a joystick takes the place of a conventional steering wheel. The vehicle is powered by the emission-free fuel cell system located at the rear. With a power rating of 1.2 kW the F-CELL Roadster reaches a top speed of 25 km/h and has an operating range of up to 350 km.
