The Mercedes F 015 is an autonomously driven car fuelled by Hydrogen-electric hybrid powertrain and is built to meet the needs of cities in 2030.
The ongoing 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has some very interesting innovations under one roof with automakers actively participating with a host of new technologies that will make it on our vehicles in the near future. After teasing its innovation for days, Mercedes-Benz has finally showcased its new futuristic concept at the 2015 CES in Las Vegas and has called it ‘F 015 Luxury in Motion’ – a self driving luxury sedan that determines the future of the company’s cars and is the most technologically advanced vehicle to come out of the company’s headquarter’s in Stuttgart, Germany.
A futuristic study, the Mercedes F 015 concept has the answer to the rapidly changing world and its needs. With the number of mega-cities set to increase to 40 by 2030, the need for autonomously driven cars will increase by ten folds and this is where the F 015 steps in to the rescue. In terms of dimensions, the F 015 is no smaller than an S-Class measuring 5220 mm in length, 2018 mm in width and 1524 mm in height, while the wheelbase measures a large 3610 mm that results in maximum space for passengers.
In terms of design, the Mercedes F 015 is certainly void of any conventional looks and nothing apart from the three-pointed star convey of its German legacy. The windscreen is sharply raked extending uptil the roof, while the suicide doors open at a 90-degree angle. The extremely short overhangs also ensure that space is maximised inside the cabin on the F 015. The front and rear fascia comprise of LED grilles that completely replace head as well as tail lights and have different lighting functions. The LED lights also play an important role in communicating with the world outside the car. For instance, the LED lights change to blue if the vehicle is being driven autonomously, or change to white if being manually controlled.
Riding on 26-inch alloys, the Mercedes F 015’s body is around 40 percent lighter compared to the body shell of today’s vehicles. Mercedes has extensively used carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), aluminium and high-strength steel in the construction. On the inside, the automaker has spared no expense in terms of luxury as the autonomous vehicle comes with lounge like interiors. You get leather upholstered seats, retractable steering wheel in auto mode and 180-degree swivel seats that can convert the cabin into an office with gesture control. The seats can also swing outwards by 30-degrees when the doors open for easy ingress and egress.
The conventional dashboard has been replaced a touchscreen system that controls and projects all the major information on the car, while every seat comes with its own interactive touchscreen panels with personalized controls. Keeping the advanced technologies in motion is the hydrogen-electric hybrid motor that draws power from hydrogen fuel cells as well as lithium-ion batteries powering two electric motors producing a combined output of 272 PS.
The Mercedes F 015 is no slouch by any means and can do the 0-100 km/hr sprint in just 6.7 seconds. In terms of efficiency, a fully charged battery can cover a distance of 200 kms on a single charge, while the addition of hydrogen power can extend the range to a whopping 1100 kms without having to refuel. In terms of emissions, hydrogen’s only bi-product happens to be water vapour ensuring clean air at all times.
