AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – DaimlerChrysler has introduced the world’s first fuel cell-powered police vehicle, and the Wayne State University (WSU) Police Department in Detroit will operate the Mercedes F-Cell as a supervisor’s vehicle on and in the immediate vicinity of the campus, located in Detroit’s Cultural Center.
Outfitted with a third-generation police radio, decals, lights and sirens, the WSU Police Department F-Cell is a look into the future use of fuel cell vehicles. The demanding operation of a police car will produce valuable data to help develop fuel cell technology.
The vehicle will be refueled at NextEnergy’s new hydrogen fueling station. The car will serve as a learning laboratory for students in WSU College of Engineering Alternative Energy Technology, the nation’s first master’s-degree program in alternative energy.
DaimlerChrysler has spent more than $1 billion in fuel cell vehicle research and development.
The DaimlerChrysler fuel cell vehicle fleet is diverse: In addition to several research vehicles, it also includes medium-duty fuel cell Dodge Sprinter vans and more than 35 Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell buses, which operate in Europe, the United States, Japan, Australia and Singapore. As part of the world’s largest fleet of fuel cell vehicles, DaimlerChrysler has more than 25 fuel cell vehicles in customer hands in California and more than 100 around the world.
The Mercedes F-Cell’s fuel cell system is housed in the floor of the vehicle, leaving full use of the passenger and cargo spaces. It has a range of approximately 100 miles and a top speed of 85 mph. The electric motor develops 88 hp (65 kW), enabling acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 16 seconds. The stack has been developed by the DaimlerChrysler cooperation partner, Ballard Power Systems.
