California Residents Use Fuel Cell-Powered Mercedes To Get Their Driver's License

Posted by www.eMercedesBenz.com on May 31, 2006 at 10:10 AM CST

Have you ever imagined that one day, your kids would complete their  
driving exam in a pollution-free fuel cell-powered vehicle?  If so,  
you're not alone.  In a recent statement made by President Bush: "I  
believe that today's children will one day take a driver's test in a  
hydrogen-powered, pollution-free car. That's the goal of the United  
States."

In yet another sign we live in the future, a select group of  
Californian residents have made that goal a reality, completing their  
driver's test in a fuel-cell powered Mercedes F-Cell.

According to Peter Friebe, one of the individuals chosen to  
participate in the F-Cell driving program:  "It was an experience to  
see the look on the evaluator's face at the DMV.  I'm sure it made  
his day to ride around in the F-Cell giving me my driving test."

I'm sure it did Peter; I'm sure it did.

Unfortunately what Peter didn't take into account was that once the  
DMV instructor's fuel-cell induced euphoria had worn off, he was then  
forced to resume testing the legions of hormonally-unstable sixteen  
year old girls and their parent's environmentally-unfriendly SUV's.   
To compensate for the guilt of knowing that a pollution-free vehicle  
exists and yet the American public still chooses to contribute to the  
melting of polar ice caps, the instructor was then forced to up his  
usual two-pack a day Marlboro intake into the three - three and a  
half range, a fact that will ultimately lead to his untimely death at  
the hands of the evil we all know as lung cancer.

So congratulations Peter. You and your fuel-cell powered Mercedes  
just killed a DMV instructor.

For more info, keep reading for the full press release.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Get Your Driver's License in a Fuel Cell-Powered Car

Mercedes-Benz F-Cell passenger car assists in getting people their  
California driver's license
DaimlerChrysler has the largest fleet of fuel cell vehicles in the  
world -- more than 100 buses, vans and passenger cars
Fuel cell vehicles are taking another step toward common use
More than $1 billion invested in fuel cell technology and almost two-  
million miles logged -- no other auto manufacturer even comes close
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 31 -- Over the last year some lucky  
individuals have had the opportunity to drive a zero-emissions  
Mercedes-Benz fuel cell-powered passenger car to the Department of  
Motor Vehicles (DMV) in California to complete their driver's test.

President Bush has stated, "I believe that today's children will one  
day take a driver's test in a hydrogen-powered, pollution-free car.  
That's the goal of the United States." DaimlerChrysler is taking that  
step today.

"It was an experience to see the look on the evaluator's face at the  
DMV," said Peter Friebe -- who recently passed his exam. "I'm sure it  
made his day to ride around in the F-Cell giving me my driving test."

DaimlerChrysler has spent more than $1 billion in fuel cell vehicle  
research and development. No other manufacturer has accumulated more  
data or driven more zero-emissions miles -- almost two million.

The Mercedes-Benz F-Cell is a reflection of DaimlerChrysler's  
leadership in fuel cell technology. The entire fuel cell system is  
housed in the floor of the vehicle, leaving full use of the passenger  
and cargo spaces. It has a range of approximately 100 miles and a top  
speed of 85 mph. The electric motor develops 88 hp (65 kw), enabling  
acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 16 seconds. The stack has been  
developed by the DaimlerChrysler cooperation partner Ballard Power  
Systems.

The DaimlerChrysler fuel cell vehicle fleet is diverse -- in addition  
to several research vehicles, it also includes medium-duty fuel cell  
Dodge Sprinter vans and more than 35 Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell  
buses, which operate in Europe, the United States, Japan, Australia  
and Singapore. As part of the world's largest fleet of fuel cell  
vehicles, DaimlerChrysler has more than 25 fuel cell vehicles with  
customers in California and more than 100 around the world. No other  
manufacturer comes close to the efforts of DaimlerChrysler with fuel  
cell technology.

DaimlerChrysler pioneered fuel cell vehicle technology more than a  
decade ago. Fuel cells release energy from the reaction of hydrogen  
with a catalyst and oxygen. This clean technology operates at a high  
level of efficiency and is true zero-emissions. Hydrogen-powered fuel  
cell vehicles emit only pure water vapor as exhaust. Fuel cell  
vehicles are part of DaimlerChrysler's advanced propulsion technology  
umbrella, which includes efficient gasoline engines, advanced  
diesels, Flex-Fuel and hybrid powertrain systems.

For more Mercedes-Benz news and information, visit  
www.eMercedesBenz.com.