Mercedes to Show Ener-G-Force Concept at L.A. Show

Mercedes-Benz explores its off-roading capabilities with a concept vehicle tailored for police duty and environmental safety.

The Ener-G-Force, a version of the auto maker’s G-Class line, debuts at the Los Angeles Auto Show this month. A police version was commissioned for the show’s Los Angeles Design Challenge, a competition among OEMs.

The hydrogen-powered vehicle emits only water, Mercedes says, and has a range of 500 miles (805 km). Water is stored on the roof of the vehicle, where it is transferred to the “hydro-tech converter.” Natural and renewable resources convert it into hydrogen for operating the fuel cells.

For police use, the Ener-G-Force is outfitted with minimal glass for protection, but has 20-in. wheels and an intimidating front end to invoke a commanding presence.

“Modern and cool, it could also be a clue about a new beginning for the off-road design idiom of Mercedes-Benz,”Gorden Wagener, director of design at Mercedes-Benz, says in a news release.

Other features include a pull-out toolbox where the spare wheel cover normally is placed, a “Terra- Scan” 360-degree topography scanner, hot-swappable battery packs and color-changing side skirts.