OK, so maybe the large spoked wheels are about the only bit of technology that this concept shares with the Karl Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886. Nevertheless, the Mercedes Benz F-CELL Roadster concept--like the Patent Motor Car--is a revolutionary design.
The F-CELL Roadster combines the latest technology with the history of automotive manufacturing. In addition to its spoked wheels, the concept incorporates Lambo-style vertical doors (if you could call them doors), carbon-fiber bucket seats with hand-stitched leather covers, and a fiberglass front section that was inspired by the company's Formula One racing bolides.
Like the Benz Patent Motor Car, the F-CELL Roadster's engine is in the back. However, the concept's engine is actually a state-of-the-art fuel cell system. Housed in a blue-tinted illuminated engine bay, it makes 1.75 hp and can propel the roadster up to nearly 16 mph. A joystick is used in place of a conventional steering wheel and the range is said to be about 217 emission-free miles.
Built by trainees of Daimler AG, the prime objective of F-CELL Roadster project was to integrate the topic of alternative drive systems into training with hands-on experience. More than 150 trainees and dual education system students worked on the project for about a year. According to Human Resources Board member and Labor Relations Manager Günther Fleig "This project impressively demonstrates that the topic of sustainable mobility has become an integral part of our vocational training."
There's nothing like a fuel cell concept with historic elements to get your feet wet in the field of automotive design. Junior employees with backgrounds in mechatronics, model-building, electronics, coating technology, manufacturing mechanics, product design, and interior appointments came together to finish the project. While we might not see anything like the F-CELL Roadster on our roads anytime soon, it's interesting to get the young automotive professional's take on the future of motoring.
The F-CELL Roadster combines the latest technology with the history of automotive manufacturing. In addition to its spoked wheels, the concept incorporates Lambo-style vertical doors (if you could call them doors), carbon-fiber bucket seats with hand-stitched leather covers, and a fiberglass front section that was inspired by the company's Formula One racing bolides.
Like the Benz Patent Motor Car, the F-CELL Roadster's engine is in the back. However, the concept's engine is actually a state-of-the-art fuel cell system. Housed in a blue-tinted illuminated engine bay, it makes 1.75 hp and can propel the roadster up to nearly 16 mph. A joystick is used in place of a conventional steering wheel and the range is said to be about 217 emission-free miles.
Built by trainees of Daimler AG, the prime objective of F-CELL Roadster project was to integrate the topic of alternative drive systems into training with hands-on experience. More than 150 trainees and dual education system students worked on the project for about a year. According to Human Resources Board member and Labor Relations Manager Günther Fleig "This project impressively demonstrates that the topic of sustainable mobility has become an integral part of our vocational training."
There's nothing like a fuel cell concept with historic elements to get your feet wet in the field of automotive design. Junior employees with backgrounds in mechatronics, model-building, electronics, coating technology, manufacturing mechanics, product design, and interior appointments came together to finish the project. While we might not see anything like the F-CELL Roadster on our roads anytime soon, it's interesting to get the young automotive professional's take on the future of motoring.