Mercedes plans to release two new hydrogen vehicles in the next few years

The auto manufacturer plans to release two new hydrogen vehicles in the next few years, according to an Automotive News article. Mercedes-Benz currently leases an F-Cell hydrogen-fueled vehicle based on the compact B-Class model in a handful of states. The F-Cell has a 240-mile driving range, emits only water vapor when driven, and can be leased for $849 per month.

To date, the company has leased approximately 35 F-Cells in Southern California where the lion's share of hydrogen fueling stations are being built, and plans to put another couple dozen hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road by the end of the year. California is expected to have 46 hydrogen refueling stations built by 2014.

By the time the two-year leases are up in 2014, there should be a second-generation F-Cell vehicle on the market. The next-gen F-Cell will also be based on the B-Class, but will include additional options and upgraded telematics systems.

In addition to the F-Cell, Mercedes-Benz has a larger fuel-cell vehicle in the pipeline. The company hasn't decided if that larger car will be a sedan or SUV, but says it will be based on an existing model that's larger than the C-class platform. The Canadian-built fuel cell stacks that will propel these upcoming cars are suited to power B-Class and the larger E-Class vehicles,according to an article in WorldCarFans.com. The larger hydrogen-fueled car is expected to debut a couple of years after the second-generation F-Cell in 2014.

Sources:
VIN
CNET Reviews