GM reinvents the car with advanced fuel cell concepts

General Motors has revealed a driveable version of the most technologically advanced car ever built, the Sequel.

Sequel was first introduced in 2005 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, US. It is the first vehicle in the world to successfully integrate a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system with a broad menu of advanced technologies such as steer-and brake-by-wire controls, wheel hub motors, lithium-ion batteries and a light-weight aluminium structure. It uses clean hydrogen as fuel produced by renewable methods, and emits only water vapour.

“General Motors is proving that advanced technology can remove the automobile from the environmental debate and reduce our dependence on petroleum,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president, research & development and strategic planning. “Sequel clearly shows that our vision for the future of the automobile is real and sustainable.”

Meanwhile, the US car maker has also committed to building the world’s largest fuel cell vehicle fleet by announcing its next-generation fuel cell vehicle – the Equinox Fuel Cell.

GM will build more than 100 Chevrolet-branded Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles and will begin placing them with customers in autumn 2007, as part of a comprehensive deployment plan dubbed “Project Driveway”. Designed to gain comprehensive research data on all aspects of the customer experience, Project Driveway constitutes the first meaningful market test of fuel cell vehicles anywhere. A variety of drivers, in differing driving environments, will operate these vehicles and refuel with hydrogen in three geographic areas of the US: California, the New York metropolitan area, and Washington DC.

“The Equinox Fuel Cell is powered by GM’s most advanced fuel cell propulsion system to-date, and demonstrates an important milestone on our pathway to automotive-competitive fuel cell propulsion technology development,” said Burns. “It is a real world vehicle with real world performance,” he continued. “The fuel cell technology is seamlessly integrated into a uniquely-styled crossover vehicle. The Equinox Fuel Cell joins GM’s family of advanced gasoline saving and alternative fuel vehicles.”

The Project Driveway market test will provide comprehensive insight into all aspects of the customer experience, including reaction to the exciting, smooth, and quiet performance of a fuel cell vehicle, and refuelling with clean hydrogen gas. “These learnings will directly influence future fuel cell vehicle generations and ultimate market acceptance,” Burns said.