Environmental Enthusiasts Excel With Mercedes-Benz F-CELL

Eco-conscious consumers hit the road with hydrogen-powered vehicles

LOS ANGELES--May 16, 2012: Actress Diane Kruger is one of more than 35 environmental enthusiasts and early adopters in California enjoying the benefits of the Mercedes-Benz hydrogen electric fuel cell vehicle, the B-Class F-CELL -- the first zero-emissions vehicle available from Mercedes-Benz in the US. Kruger, who stars in "Farewell, My Queen," drives the B-Class F-CELL, which converts compressed hydrogen into electricity to deliver a range of up to 240 miles, and an average of 55 mpg equivalent while emitting only water vapor.

"I'm excited to be driving the F-CELL. It's environmentally conscious, fun to drive and gets lots of attention on the streets," said Diane Kruger. "I can travel more than 200 miles on a full tank and it's easy to refuel."

More than three dozen of the electric vehicles, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, are now available in Southern California and will be available in Northern California in June. Several fueling stations are now open in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, including Newport Beach, which opened this past March. Those interested in leasing an F-CELL can get additional information and apply online at Fuel Cell Survey.

In addition to the F-CELL, Mercedes-Benz offers eight alternative powertrain vehicles in the U.S. from the all-new 2012 M-Class BlueTEC SUV to the popular S400 HYBRID, which is a top choice for Hollywood actors and those in the entertainment business that deal with daily city traffic. The S400 HYBRID includes a convenient ECO start-stop function that turns off the gasoline engine below nine mph when braking to a stop. When the S400 HYBRID is at a traffic light, for example, the gasoline engine is off, but the AC compressor and steering pump are operated electrically, so air conditioning and power steering are fully operational. When the brakes are released, the gasoline engine is started automatically, and works with the electric motor providing seamless performance.

Hollywood's most notable talent who choose Mercedes-Benz for their green transportation include Golden Globe Best Actress Winner Michelle Williams, Sofia Vergara, Bryan Cranston, 2011 Academy Award Best Actress Winner Natalie Portman, Courteney Cox, Renee Zellweger, Katharine McPhee, Serena Williams and Nick Swisher.