In the history of the automotive industry, police cars and other fleet vehicles have almost always been on the receiving end of recycled technology. Well, that was not the case today when DaimlerChrysler unveiled to the world the first operational fuel cell-powered police vehicle – the Mercedes F-Cell.

The Mercedes F-Cell is the latest product of DaimlerChrysler’s continuing development of fuel cell technology in vehicles. Pioneering the fuel cell vehicle technology more than a decade ago, the company is now the biggest proponent of the said technology, spending more than $1 billion in fuel cell vehicle research and registering more than 1.2 million miles of zero-emissions driving. Among the company’s large fleet of fuel cell vehicles are the Dodge Sprinter vans, Mercedes Benz Citaro fuel cell buses, and several of other research vehicles.

For the Mercedes F-Cell, the entire fuel cell system of the vehicle is laid down underneath its floor, leaving enough space in its interior for passengers and cargos. The vehicle is powered by an 88 hp electric motor that allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 16 seconds, with a top speed of 85 mph. While all these figures are modest, to say the least, the car is definitely an achievement in fuel cell vehicle technology.

Complete with a third generation police radio, decals, lights and sirens, the Mercedes F-Cell will be operated by the Wayne State University Police Department of Detroit as a supervisor’s vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle will also serve as a learning laboratory for the students of the WSU College of Engineering Alternative Energy Technology. The WSU Police Department will refuel the said vehicle at NextEnergy’s new hydrogen refilling station.