Cars and Coffee Irvine California

 
Seeing how Mercedes Benz did nothing to promote the F-Cell during the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, I felt compelled to get some level of exposure for the car and the technology in Southern California.  So I drove it to the Cars and Coffee event down in Irvine, California this past weekend.  This is a weekly meet that takes place every Saturday morning and features several hundred cars that owners bring out to show and share with fellow Southern California motoring enthusiasts.  Everything from old and new cars, domestics and imports, any interesting car is invited to attend.  While I usually show up only in my other significantly more "interesting" cars, I thought it might be time to share the future of the automobile with my enthusiast peers.

While the F-Cell was largely ignored by the average person, there were enough people who's curiosity was piqued to stop and take notice at this weird sea-foam green colored Mercedes thing.  Most either didn't recognize the B-Class, or they did recognize it and were surprised to see a B-Class in the country.  Others knew exactly what the F-Cell was.  Others reinforced my biggest concern communicating about the F-Cell and the "hydrogen powered" sticker on the back, and that's that they thought the car burned hydrogen in a traditional internal combustion process. 

Either way, most people were happy to see the technology and those who didn't know were interested in hearing about it.  My strategic positioning regarding fuel cells was an easy pitch for most car guys to understand and accept: 1) energy independence  2) renewable energy  3) no change in consumer lifestyle - fill up and go  4) keeps gas stations and big oil in the business of retailing energy ie they will support it 5) zero emissions.


Biggest questions were, 1) where do you get hydrogen?  2) what's the range from one tank?  3) how much does hydrogen cost?  4) can you get one now?

In addition to verbally sharing the experience and the technology, I passed out some flyers that Mercedes Benz had provided, and I think there were a couple genuinely interested people.  So if I sold a few, I hope MBUSA sends me a commission check ;)

I even got into a debate with a silly Prius owner, who was actually being quite persistent in dismissing electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell technology as a "fad".  He must have been offended by my license plate.  After several interjections during my presentation to people, I finally had to chime in.  The Prius driver countered my claim that I get 170 miles from a tank of hydrogen.  He said he gets over 500 miles in his Prius.  I shot back that he's still burning fossil fuels and defeats the point of zero emissions and renewable energy.  I pointed out that a Chevy Suburban has a range of over 500 miles from a tank.  But he defended that he uses much less gas than a Suburban.  I finally nailed his coffin and said "you might only be touching one kid, but you're still a child molester."  That finally got him to leave. 

Besides, and with all apologies to you Prius drivers: who the hell brings a normal Prius out to a car meet?