Mercedes Unveils Self-Driving, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle At CES

Driverless technology has been making headlines all across the world during the past year, and thanks to Mercedes-Benz that trend has carried over into 2015.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Mercedes unveiled the “F 015 Luxury in Motion.” The vehicle appears to be quite futuristic. It’s shaped like an Apple “Magic Mouse.” It also has high-powered LED lighting and low profile tires, which show off 26-inch rims. This vehicle is meant to transport four individuals in a comfortable lounge-like environment.

A single pane of glass covers the top of the vehicle. The seats swivel to face one another and the vehicle boasts multiple screens and advanced infotainment features. The exterior lights on the F 015 Luxury in Motion are a feature that could catch on with other self-driving cars in the future. The so-called “LED fields” on the front and rear of the vehicle change color depending on which mode the vehicle is in. If the lights are white, other motorists and pedestrians know that the vehicle is in manual mode, driven by a person. However, if those same LEDs are blue, it will be known that the vehicle is in fully autonomous mode, controlled by a computer system.

Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management for Daimler AG, spoke about this concept car at CES in Las Vegas Monday. Zetsche said, “The car of the future is really good looking, smart, polite, and helpful…quality time and private space will be the true luxury goods in the future.”

This new vehicle concept from Mercedes-Benz also truly stands out as it’s powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and battery. The vehicle reportedly charges by parking on a charging pad in lieu of a traditional electric plug-in. However, this is a concept car, thus don’t expect to see itin any way shape or form prior to 2030.

Do you think that self-driving vehicles will be commonplace on city streets and highways before 2030? Do you keep an eye on automotive innovations at the Consumer Electronics Show? How often do you update your training to keep up with evolving vehicles?