Zero Emission Road Warrior: Daimler's A-Class F-CELL Concludes Journey at Hydrogen Road Tour 09

60 A-Class F-CELL in operation worldwide - 30 in U.S. operation

Successful trials underline viability of technology

B-Class F-CELL to be produced in small series at the end of this year

LONG BEACH, May 26, 2009: Daimler's A-Class F-CELL hydrogen powered vehicle caps a successful five-year journey of road trials in the U.S. with its participation in the Hydrogen Road Tour 09 starting today at Chula Vista, California. The recently converted A-Class F-CELL "plus" with 700 bar technology will participate in the tour along with hydrogen-powered vehicles from other automakers. This new 700 bar technology extends the range in the current vehicle generation by about 70 percent.

The nine day road trip will cover over 1,800 miles and stop in 28 communities before arriving in Vancouver, British Columbia on June 3. The tour is showcasing the progress of hydrogen programs in the U.S. and is organized by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), Powertech Labs, the National Hydrogen Association and the U.S. Fuel Cell Council.

A fleet of 30 A-Class F-CELL vehicles has been in daily use on public roads in the U.S. since 2004. The program includes fleet and infrastructure trials supported by the states of California and Michigan. After the tour, the A-Class F-CELL will be passing on the baton to the next generation of fuel cell vehicles: The B-Class F-CELL, the first fuel cell vehicle produced in a small volume series, but under full series development processes. The A-Class F-CELL vehicles which were deployed with customers from governmental agencies, universities and utility companies, received high marks from their users for their drivability, great acceleration, and zero tailpipe emissions.

"We are excited about the positive reception of fuel cell technology in California and across the U.S.," said Dr. Christian Mohrdieck, Director of Fuel Cell & Battery Drive Development at Daimler. "It is an extraordinary pleasure to me that our trial partners in government and in the private sector consider the A-Class F-CELL a living proof of the viability of hydrogen fuel cell propulsion. They are enthusiastically supporting the plea for funding and creating the much needed infrastructure."

Fuel cell technology is key to emission-free driving in the future, as it is the only emission-free technology equally suited for both short and long distance mobility. Bringing fuel cell technology to market requires efficient cooperation between political decision-makers, the oil industry, the energy sector, and other potential investors. The production of hydrogen from renewable sources and the establishment of a suitable hydrogen supply infrastructure are crucial to continue the advancement of this technology. Therefore, Daimler is actively engaging in dialogue and technical cooperation with industrial, governmental and policy stakeholders to foster the partnering and solicit support. The company is an active and founding member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership and is working with the Department of Energy on a technology validation project.

Only with further cooperation, standardization and the implementation of a comprehensive infrastructure it will be possible to pave the road to emission-free driving. Daimler underlines its commitment to environmental responsibility and will release the first near-serially produced fuel cell vehicles to customers as early as 2010. The company expects the marketability as early as 2015.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL

The B-Class F-CELL is a Compact Sports Tourer which will be introduced to customers by the end of 2009 and is far more powerful and efficient than the A-Class F-CELL. Based on the optimized more compact fuel cell system presented by Mercedes-Benz in its F 600 HYGENIUS research vehicle in 2005, the newly designed stack module is around 40 percent smaller, but develops 30 percent more power output and cuts fuel consumption by 16 percent. The system also has favorable cold-starting ability. The B-Class F-CELL will boast an operating range of about 250 miles per tank filling.

Fuel Cell Pioneer

A pioneer in fuel cell technology, Daimler's first drive concept went public in 1994 with the introduction of Necar 1, which was followed by 20 additional prototypes. With the introduction of the A-Class F-CELL in 2003, Daimler presented the world's first pre-production series vehicle. Today, Daimler operates the largest fuel cell fleet with over 100 vehicles in service worldwide: Concept vehicles, passenger cars, vans, and Citaro city buses are undergoing trials with customers in everyday operation. In 2007 an F-CELL A-Class reached 100,000 miles and 2,500 operating hours without stack repair or replacement. With some 300,000 emission-free miles covered by this fuel cell fleet, Daimler has more data, expertise and experience at its disposal than any other manufacturer. Insights gained through these trials will flow directly to the ongoing research and development work and help to continue the optimization of this drive system, a strong proof of Daimler's commitment to innovative leadership on the road to a new era of mobility: sustainable, high-performing, efficient and emissions-free.