First Fuel Cell Police Car

DaimlerChrysler is expanding fuel cell vehicles beyond cargo carrying and daily transport into a whole new realm: law enforcement. The world's first fuel cell-powered police car - based on the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell, which is itself derived from the first-generation Mercedes A-Class - is going into service as part of the Wayne State University Police Department in Detroit, Michigan. Outfitted with a police radio, decals, lights, and sirens, the Wayne State Police Department F-Cell is set to fulfill the high demands of police car operation - and provide DaimlerChrysler with valuable development data.

The Mercedes F-Cell has a range of approximately 100 miles and a top speed of 85 mph. The electric motor develops 88 hp, enabling acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 16 seconds. The Wayne State Police Department F-Cell vehicle will be refueled at NextEnergy's new hydrogen fueling station. Its assignment at the university is a logical choice: The car will serve as a learning laboratory for students in WSU College of Engineering Alternative Energy Technology, the nation's first master's-degree program in alternative energy.