DaimlerChrysler AG (Auburn Hills, MI) announced its move into the fuel cell market in California with its first sale to the state's Air Quality Management District (AQMD) under the agency's Technology Advancement Program. The government agency will use the company's F-Cell fuel cell system in daily use as part of a 100-vehicle alternative fuel fleet that Chrysler will supply to the AQMD. The agreement will enable the organizations to gain additional experience with a fuel cell vehicle and a public hydrogen refueling station.
Based on a Mercedes A-Class, the fuel cell system is housed in the floor of the vehicle. The system has a range of approximately 100 miles and a top speed of 85 mph. Power from the 65 kW electric motor is comparable to 88 HP, and enables acceleration from 0 mph to 60 mph in 16 seconds. Ballard Power Systems Inc. designed the stack for the F-Cell system.
