In North American, the show-and-tell vehicles will be covering until March 18 a total of 7,500 km, reaching Seattle in the end, from where they will depart for Australia. Until now, the models have been circling around Europe, covering 3,600 km with virtually no problem.
"We will have reached market maturity with fuel cell technology by 2015 at the latest. From that point we would then be in a position to bring several 100,000 vehicles, in a variety of different model series, onto the roads,” said Thomas Weber, Daimler member of the board for Research and Development.
“For example we are also planning a saloon model with fuel cell drive and will thereby expand our portfolio of local zero-emission vehicles. Therefore, by that time, an infrastructure which allows the everyday operation of such vehicles, needs to be in place."
The models chosen by Daimler to preview its future line up of electric vehicles are powered by fuel cell system which comprises a 136 hp electric motor (290 Nm of torque) with cold-start capability, the model is capable of reaching 250 miles (400 km) before refueling with hydrogen.
For the journey across North America, the B-Klasse will be fueled by local partner Linde, a gases and engineering company. Linde will be providing the hydrogen needed for the three cars to continue their journey.
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