Comments on: Mercedes Announces Crazy Hybrid F-Cell Roadster! http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/03/25/mercedes-announces-crazy-hybrid-f-cell-roadster/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:27:43 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: iknowithttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/03/25/mercedes-announces-crazy-hybrid-f-cell-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-136662 iknowit Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:55:18 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=22075#comment-136662 ...\"If the object is to showcase the fuel-cell, why not build a more practical and usable vehicle instead of something where there is no place it would work? Is this what they are doing with bailout money?\"....The point of this vehicle is not to showcase the fuel cell or even the vehicle itself. The point of the vehicle is to showcase the education that young apprentices are getting at Daimler.This is more or less an interdisciplinary school project, in which students and young apprentices learn the basics of car construction and teamwork. Of course the result may not practical, but it works if you don\'t see it as solely as a concept for a car, but as a concept of how to educate about past and future of transportation.1) The wheels - It\'s about knowing where you are coming from. They are basically the same as the ones on the first Benz Patent Motorwagen. I\'ll bet they were chosen for that reason alone and not for their great characteristics.2) The fuel cell - Think about where you want to go. It\'s an education about alternative propulsion systems.3) The fact that it is VERY underpowered. While this thing is really severely underpowered for any practical use it reminds the students about the fact that efficiency should be one of the top priorities in car construction4) The fact that Daimler chose to showcase this project like they did shows that they wish to be seen not only as a luxury car-maker but also as ecologically aware and responsible. …\”If the object is to showcase the fuel-cell, why not build a more practical and usable vehicle instead of something where there is no place it would work? Is this what they are doing with bailout money?\”….

The point of this vehicle is not to showcase the fuel cell or even the vehicle itself. The point of the vehicle is to showcase the education that young apprentices are getting at Daimler.

This is more or less an interdisciplinary school project, in which students and young apprentices learn the basics of car construction and teamwork. Of course the result may not practical, but it works if you don\’t see it as solely as a concept for a car, but as a concept of how to educate about past and future of transportation.

1) The wheels – It\’s about knowing where you are coming from. They are basically the same as the ones on the first Benz Patent Motorwagen. I\’ll bet they were chosen for that reason alone and not for their great characteristics.

2) The fuel cell – Think about where you want to go. It\’s an education about alternative propulsion systems.

3) The fact that it is VERY underpowered. While this thing is really severely underpowered for any practical use it reminds the students about the fact that efficiency should be one of the top priorities in car construction

4) The fact that Daimler chose to showcase this project like they did shows that they wish to be seen not only as a luxury car-maker but also as ecologically aware and responsible.

]]> By: autotaxpayer1234http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/03/25/mercedes-announces-crazy-hybrid-f-cell-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-122825 autotaxpayer1234 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:16:13 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=22075#comment-122825 As this vehicle doesn't appear to have turn signals, rear view mirrors, headlights, or a windshield, and a top speed of 15 mph, one could surmise that it's not built to go on the road. It looks too large to be driven driven on the sidewalk, and too fragile to be driven off road (You'd bend those rims easily). So why is Daimler wasting their time designing a vehicle that isn't street legal, isn't practical, and can't be used in any transportation condition? If the object is to showcase the fuel-cell, why not build a more practical and usable vehicle instead of something where there is no place it would work? Is this what they are doing with bailout money?Fail, imho. At 15mph, stick with a bicycle. As this vehicle doesn’t appear to have turn signals, rear view mirrors, headlights, or a windshield, and a top speed of 15 mph, one could surmise that it’s not built to go on the road. It looks too large to be driven driven on the sidewalk, and too fragile to be driven off road (You’d bend those rims easily). So why is Daimler wasting their time designing a vehicle that isn’t street legal, isn’t practical, and can’t be used in any transportation condition? If the object is to showcase the fuel-cell, why not build a more practical and usable vehicle instead of something where there is no place it would work? Is this what they are doing with bailout money?

Fail, imho. At 15mph, stick with a bicycle.

]]> By: davidwayneosedachhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/03/25/mercedes-announces-crazy-hybrid-f-cell-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-122752 davidwayneosedach Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:42:42 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=22075#comment-122752 Here in temperate sunny San Diego this hybrid (bicycle) wwill be a big hit. How much does it cost and can it be tweaked to go a litle faster? 15 mph is barely fast enough for downtown traffic. Here in temperate sunny San Diego this hybrid (bicycle) wwill be a big hit. How much does it cost and can it be tweaked to go a litle faster? 15 mph is barely fast enough for downtown traffic.

]]> By: Charleshttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/03/25/mercedes-announces-crazy-hybrid-f-cell-roadster/comment-page-1/#comment-122580 Charles Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:09:36 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=22075#comment-122580 When will it be available and what will be th cost in US dollars? When will it be available and what will be th cost in US dollars?

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