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Try this for size..rugged and durable for the Jamaican roads:
Ener-G-Force
"In the world's largest SUV market, it's important that we continue to push the boundaries of what an SUV should be," Mercedes-Benz USA president and CEO Stephen Cannon said in introducing the Ener-G-Force. "But we need to do it in a responsible way."
The Ener-G-Force design study, which served as Mercedes entry in the Los Angeles Design Challenge 2012, exemplifies Cannon's vision by combining a completely re-imagined G-Class design with a fuel cell powertrain that runs on water.
The task of the Design Challenge was to create a highway patrol vehicle for the year 2025. Mercedes used some imagination in envisioning a changing dynamic in patrol duties over the next 13 years.
"Law enforcement will have to prepare for even more crowded roads with electronically monitored and guided traffic, a much larger population and changes in human behavior," the automaker said in its press release. "The new times will also call for new police vehicles. They must be able to reach any place conceivable quickly and reliably – even far away from any pavement. And they must do so in an exceptionally environmentally friendly way using alternative energy sources."
The Ener-G-Force is a futuristic extension of the current G-Class. The utility vehicle is capable of riding over any type of surface necessary thanks to its large wheels and gnarled tires. The small glasshouse is designed to protect the officers inside, while a set of roof-mounted flashers convey authority.
Mercedes had so much fun in conceptualizing the Ener-G-Force patrol vehicle, it decided to build a 1:1-scale model of a civilian version, which is what you see in the photos. Defining exterior features of the Ener-G-Force include its bold grille and G-shaped LED headlamps. The off-roader keeps the G-Class signature of fender-mounted front turn signals and running lights. In back, the area typically reserved for the spare tire houses a pull-out toolbox for quick access to the tools of the driver's trade. A "Terra-Scan" unit on the roof monitors 360 degrees of surrounding terrain and adjusts drive settings accordingly.
The Ener-G-Force takes a bite out of police department and personal budgets by utilizing a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. Roof tanks store "recycled water," which is converted into hydrogen by a "hydro-tech converter." Fuel cells turn that hydrogen into electricity to power four hub motors, which Mercedes envisions powering the vehicle over 500 miles (805 km) per tank.
The Ener-G-Force didn't take home first place in the Design Challenge, but it's sure to get off-road enthusiasts thinking about the future of their vehicles.
Ener-G-Force
"In the world's largest SUV market, it's important that we continue to push the boundaries of what an SUV should be," Mercedes-Benz USA president and CEO Stephen Cannon said in introducing the Ener-G-Force. "But we need to do it in a responsible way."
The Ener-G-Force design study, which served as Mercedes entry in the Los Angeles Design Challenge 2012, exemplifies Cannon's vision by combining a completely re-imagined G-Class design with a fuel cell powertrain that runs on water.
The task of the Design Challenge was to create a highway patrol vehicle for the year 2025. Mercedes used some imagination in envisioning a changing dynamic in patrol duties over the next 13 years.
"Law enforcement will have to prepare for even more crowded roads with electronically monitored and guided traffic, a much larger population and changes in human behavior," the automaker said in its press release. "The new times will also call for new police vehicles. They must be able to reach any place conceivable quickly and reliably – even far away from any pavement. And they must do so in an exceptionally environmentally friendly way using alternative energy sources."
The Ener-G-Force is a futuristic extension of the current G-Class. The utility vehicle is capable of riding over any type of surface necessary thanks to its large wheels and gnarled tires. The small glasshouse is designed to protect the officers inside, while a set of roof-mounted flashers convey authority.
Mercedes had so much fun in conceptualizing the Ener-G-Force patrol vehicle, it decided to build a 1:1-scale model of a civilian version, which is what you see in the photos. Defining exterior features of the Ener-G-Force include its bold grille and G-shaped LED headlamps. The off-roader keeps the G-Class signature of fender-mounted front turn signals and running lights. In back, the area typically reserved for the spare tire houses a pull-out toolbox for quick access to the tools of the driver's trade. A "Terra-Scan" unit on the roof monitors 360 degrees of surrounding terrain and adjusts drive settings accordingly.
The Ener-G-Force takes a bite out of police department and personal budgets by utilizing a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. Roof tanks store "recycled water," which is converted into hydrogen by a "hydro-tech converter." Fuel cells turn that hydrogen into electricity to power four hub motors, which Mercedes envisions powering the vehicle over 500 miles (805 km) per tank.
The Ener-G-Force didn't take home first place in the Design Challenge, but it's sure to get off-road enthusiasts thinking about the future of their vehicles.
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