A pair of New York-based companies have agreed to purchase a shuttered GM fuel cell research and development center in Hoenye Falls, NY. The 160,000 square-foot facility employed between 200-300 people before it was shut down in 2012 and consolidated with GM’s Global Propulsion Headquarters in Pontiac, Michigan.
Listed by Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Co. for $3.85 million. Neither the final sale price nor the businesses have been disclosed, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. However, the deal is reportedly finalized. It’s reported that “the logistics of the move are still in the works,” which is delaying the official announcement announcement about the two businesses has not been made yet. They’re said to be located in the Rochester, NY region and each work in materials manufacturing and machine parts, making the former GM facility an attractive offer. The former GM fuel cell facility has been vacant since it shut down, which suggests that the 19-acre property may need some basic repairs and outfitting.
Currently visible GM fuel cell efforts appear to be allocated into GM Defense, which has developed highly experimental military vehicles that run on hydrogen and electric power. The first vehicle of this kind was the Chevrolet Colorado ZH2, which is running and operating military truck that crosses terrain proficiently and silently. Second to be announced was the SURUS platform, an autonomous hydrogen fuel cell utility rover that can be tailored to perform anything from moving cargo containers to acting as a mobile command center. Next up appears to be the Chevrolet Silverado ZH2, which is features a Hydrotec GM fuel cell system combined with lithium ion batteries for an estimated range of around 400 miles. It appears to be based off the new T1 full size truck platform that underpins the 2019 Silverado and 2019 Sierra, as well as the upcoming 2020 Silverado HD and 2020 Sierra HD.
General Motors and Honda have also partnered up for expedited hydrogen fuel cell research and development.
No Comments yet