General Motors has long been one of the leading automakers in developing hydrogen fuel cell technology. It currently runs a 119-vehicle fleet of hydrogen-powered 2007 Chevrolet Equinoxs, which has accumulated more than 3 million combined miles of real world testing. It doesn’t stop there, though, GM is partnering up with other companies and organizations to further the development of new hydrogen tech.
The Equinox hydrogen test fleet, which GM calls Project Driveway, isn’t only driven in controlled scenarios by engineers. The vehicles were piloted by real consumers, who drove the cars in real-world driving conditions in order to provide feedback on how the cars would work day-to-day. GM says around 5,000 different people have provided feedback on their Equinox test fleet, but it cannot do much else with the project until the hydrogen fueling infrastructure is better.
But just because we don’t have hydrogen pumps at gas stations doesn’t mean the work stops there. GM has partnered up with Honda to develop a next-gen fuel cell system and other hydrogen storage technologies. They have also joined forces with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center to develop more hydrogen fuel cell technology.
GM says hydrogen fuel cell technology is an important component to its portfolio of alternative energy propulsion. They’ve filed the patents the back it up, too, being the number one filer of fuel cell patents in the last 11 years. They also currently lead all companies in total clean energy patents in the U.S.A. for their patents in solar, wind, hybrid/electric vehicles, fuel cells, biomass/biofuels and more.
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When they come up with a fuel cell that produces enough electric power to equal a small block V8 or turbo six, then they’ll have something.
The fuel cell doesn’t have to be so powerful. That “power” you desire comes from the electric motor and the battery. The motor in the 2014 Chevy Spark EV can give over 400 ft-lbs of torque, and has out accelerated a 2013 Camaro. Is that enough? The driver of a CUV doesn’t need that much torque, because I have a 2009 Equinox and I don’t need to race anyone.
The important issue here is range and economy. If GM eliminated the H2 tanks and fuel cell, and installed a bigger battery, then it will be a BEV and a much better vehicle, since “fueling” is done at home on any 120 or 230 VAC outlet.
Well I have driven the vehicle posted here and it has more usable torque than most V8 engines. They let me spin the tires down the street to prove the point.
Drivability is not an issue here if you were informed.
The real issue is cost, a way to fill it up faster than 20 mins or more and a place to fill it up. Solve these and there is no need for a battery to recharge.
Nice article by the way! Hope to own a FCV one day! Wanted to add to a previous post…
Video (Someone took down the video but the article still there) below of what is happening in California at municipal wastewater treatment plants using fuel cell technology to produce 3 value streams of electricity, hydrogen and heat all from a human waste! This is pretty impressive in my opinion for hydro-refueling infrastructure.
“New fuel cell sewage gas station in Orange County, CA may be world’s first”
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/orange_county&id=8310315
“It is here today and it is deployable today,” said Tom Mutchler of Air Products and Chemicals Inc., a sponsor and developer of the project.
(same system from a different article)
This DFC-H2 installation can generate about 135 kilograms of hydrogen per day which generally meets the daily requirements of many industrial hydrogen users. Once commercially available, the production cost of the hydrogen from DFC plants is expected to be competitively priced within a range of $5 to $7 per kilogram or even lower with increased production volumes. On-site hydrogen generation from DFC plants avoids the costs and pollutants associated with transportation while enhancing the reliability of supply.
So if we have a fill up of say 4(kg) x $7 that’s approx. $28 dollars to fill up the Fuel Cell Vehicle to travel approx. 300 miles (cleanly) compared to what we are spending today!!! Impressive in my opinion. Talk about creating jobs??? and helping the environment.
I’ve been following GMs hydrogen path for well over a decade. If there are electric autos, they will be hydrogen, and most of those autos will be GM.
Given General Motors’ decades long general incompetence, these will likely blow up Hindenburg-style once they start rolling off of the assembly line.
I think what would be a viable use of fuel cell technology in an auto is to deal with range anxiety because of the lack of fueling infrastructure. Since the HFC’s have battery storage, the batteries should be large enough to power the drive train a at least 100 miles. This vehicle should be also be able to be charged like an EV to make it convenient for people who just don’t have time to locate a hydrogen station that day and can charge up to make a trip to work. The ability to allow a charge to batteries in a similar way Fuel cells can extend the range of EV’s. For a consumer to use new technology, the technology must be able to bridge gaps. In the perfect world you could charge batteries and create hydrogen at home via plugin.
Anyways just glad these technologies are coming soon. I especially think GM needs to show more involvement into consumer adoption of this technology. they need to repair their public image with all the lawsuits going on and by going green with their tech would be a nice start.