The new Mercedes-Benz F 125! research car combines futuristic control concepts with visionary drive technologies.
On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his motor car at the Imperial Patent Office. Patent No. 37435 was approved, thereby making Carl Benz the inventor of the automobile. Other designs for automobiles with combustion engines were similar to Benz’ – but none were as consistent as that of the inspired tinkerer from Mannheim, Germany. The automobile has been an unparalleled success story during the 125 years that have passed since then.
A new chapter in the successful history of automobiles is now being written, as we head toward local zero-emission driving in an era of exhaust-free environmentally friendly mobility. Some experts even go so far as to proclaim the reinvention of the automobile – and they may be right. That’s because the automobile of tomorrow will offer so many opportunities that its wheels might, in a sense, be the only thing it has in common with the cars we know today.
Mercedes-Benz’ new F 125! research vehicle is at the forefront of technological progress. Its name recalls the past and Carl Benz’ invention. But more than anything else, the vehicle looks far forward into the future of individual mobility – and what can be accomplished with the 125 years of knowledge and experience that have been gained since the automobile was invented.
Mercedes-Benz engineers and designers have thought ahead two vehicle generations to the year 2025 and beyond to develop a true car of the future with equipment and features never before seen in the automotive world. These visionaries nevertheless stuck to what’s feasible: The F 125
! is not a study that’s just meant to get us thinking – one that simply stands there without moving. Rather, the F 125
! is
a fully functional research laboratory on wheels. The designers used the car to explore the future of the automobile and obtain new knowledge that can be applied to the mobile world of tomorrow.
This makes the F 125! a research vehicle in the truest sense of the word. From its bodyshell concept, drive system technology, and control, communication, telematics, and safety systems to its overall design – the F 125! redefines the luxury automobile in every respect. It’s a vehicle such as the world has never seen. It’s difficult to know where to begin when something offers so many new and innovative things.
Perhaps it’s best to start with the drive system, since this component will play a decisive role if mobility is to have a promising future. The F 125! is equipped with a zero-emission electric drive system that includes four electric motors installed near the wheels on the front and rear axles. Electronic controls continually ensure optimal power distribution to all four wheels through a concept that Mercedes-Benz refers to as “e4MATIC.” Electricity is generated onboard in a fuel cell through a chemical reaction involving hydrogen and oxygen. The only by-product of the reaction is water vapor. Additional power is provided by an efficient braking energy recovery system.
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F 125! research vehicle
F 125! research vehicle
F 125! research vehicle
F 125! research vehicle
Gorden Wagener, Mercedes-Benz chief designer
The energy storage concept in the research vehicle is a true innovation: The concept of the F 125! includes a lithium-sulfur battery with a capacity of 10 kilowatt-hours; this unit is installed behind the rear seats. The most important benefit associated with the battery is the high specific energy density of its cells, which has made it possible to reduce the battery’s size and weight. Although further research into this type of battery is still required, the developers of the F 125! believe it will be possible to increase its energy density to 350 kilowatt-hours per kilogram – or double the density currently possible – in the next ten to 15 years. The battery can be inductively charged at special charging stations that require no power cables. Drivers simply pull up and park in the charging area.
The F 125! also features a pioneering system for storing the hydrogen used in the fuel cells. A composite tank storage unit structurally integrated into the vehicle can accommodate approximately 7.5 kilograms of hydrogen. Here, researchers used so-called metal organic frameworks (MOF), which are porous solid components consisting of numerous identical basic elements. Thanks to a modular design concept, these elements can be combined in an extremely variable manner. They also have very large specific surfaces, which is why they are able to store such a large amount of hydrogen.
All of these efforts have resulted in a range of as much as 1,000 kilometers for the F 125! That’s roughly the same distance a modern diesel vehicle can travel on a full tank today. Like a diesel car, the F 125! is fully suitable for everyday use; but unlike today’s diesel vehicles, it produces absolutely no local emissions.
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F 125!
The new Mercedes-Benz F 125! research car combines futuristic control concepts with visionary drive technologies.
A new chapter in the successful history of automobiles is now being written, as we head toward local zero-emission driving in an era of exhaust-free environmentally friendly mobility. Some experts even go so far as to proclaim the reinvention of the automobile – and they may be right. That’s because the automobile of tomorrow will offer so many opportunities that its wheels might, in a sense, be the only thing it has in common with the cars we know today.
Mercedes-Benz’ new F 125! research vehicle is at the forefront of technological progress. Its name recalls the past and Carl Benz’ invention. But more than anything else, the vehicle looks far forward into the future of individual mobility – and what can be accomplished with the 125 years of knowledge and experience that have been gained since the automobile was invented.
This makes the F 125! a research vehicle in the truest sense of the word. From its bodyshell concept, drive system technology, and control, communication, telematics, and safety systems to its overall design – the F 125! redefines the luxury automobile in every respect. It’s a vehicle such as the world has never seen. It’s difficult to know where to begin when something offers so many new and innovative things.
Perhaps it’s best to start with the drive system, since this component will play a decisive role if mobility is to have a promising future. The F 125! is equipped with a zero-emission electric drive system that includes four electric motors installed near the wheels on the front and rear axles. Electronic controls continually ensure optimal power distribution to all four wheels through a concept that Mercedes-Benz refers to as “e4MATIC.” Electricity is generated onboard in a fuel cell through a chemical reaction involving hydrogen and oxygen. The only by-product of the reaction is water vapor. Additional power is provided by an efficient braking energy recovery system.
Photo Gallery
The energy storage concept in the research vehicle is a true innovation: The concept of the F 125! includes a lithium-sulfur battery with a capacity of 10 kilowatt-hours; this unit is installed behind the rear seats. The most important benefit associated with the battery is the high specific energy density of its cells, which has made it possible to reduce the battery’s size and weight. Although further research into this type of battery is still required, the developers of the F 125! believe it will be possible to increase its energy density to 350 kilowatt-hours per kilogram – or double the density currently possible – in the next ten to 15 years. The battery can be inductively charged at special charging stations that require no power cables. Drivers simply pull up and park in the charging area.
The F 125! also features a pioneering system for storing the hydrogen used in the fuel cells. A composite tank storage unit structurally integrated into the vehicle can accommodate approximately 7.5 kilograms of hydrogen. Here, researchers used so-called metal organic frameworks (MOF), which are porous solid components consisting of numerous identical basic elements. Thanks to a modular design concept, these elements can be combined in an extremely variable manner. They also have very large specific surfaces, which is why they are able to store such a large amount of hydrogen.
All of these efforts have resulted in a range of as much as 1,000 kilometers for the F 125! That’s roughly the same distance a modern diesel vehicle can travel on a full tank today. Like a diesel car, the F 125! is fully suitable for everyday use; but unlike today’s diesel vehicles, it produces absolutely no local emissions.