|
With other high-tech vehicles, a look under the hood usually produces some approving grunts. The F-Cell's engine bay could only generate puzzlement. No engine here, just the air compressor and cooling systems. What does produce a gasp of amazement is a look at the tailpipe, which was dripping only clear water. Having partaken of a large serving of salmon during breakfast, I emitted more poisonous gases than the car that morning. Or ever will, during its useful cycle. That is 5000 hours, the ICE equivalent of 10 years of use. The F-cell feels ready for the showroom, but it's still limited to a small-fleet testing program. The Mercedes people didn't give a price, but we're figuring about €1.5 million per car. Economies of scale are evidently not yet in the F-Cell's favor. Price aside, everything about operating the F-cell felt remarkably conventional, from starting and stopping to refueling. That transparency of operation will be key to its eventual market acceptance. Other surprise and delight features are in the works, such as prolonged stationary air conditioning, and a 220-v outlet for your toaster. The F-Cell is, after all, a mobile electric power plant. As we stepped back to look at the F-Cell, we were again surprised at how normal it looked. Futuristic innards, hidden within a shape that blends in with current traffic. We felt as if we were driving the Terminator. The difference was, this was not an evil machine out to destroy the world. This one is out to save it. ● |
|
|||
