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General Motors has a history of momentous technological breakthroughs – including hydrogen fuel cell power. GM has established extensive hydrogen fuel cell research and development facilities around the world. It has produced AUTOnomy, a concept vehicle that captures the vision and potential of a hydrogen fuel cell technology, and the revolutionary Hy-wire, a vehicle unmatched in both hydrogen and electronic technology.

The Hy-wire’s fuel cell propulsion system is housed entirely by an 11-inck think skateboard-like chassis, By-wire controls attached to the chassis through a single docking port use electrical signals instead of mechanical links of hydraulics to control steering, acceleration and braking. Without an engine, steering column or other conventional vehicle components, this concept provides unprecedented design freedom.

Independent studies indicate hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer superior overall efficiency and fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to internal combustion engines running on gasoline, when considering both the creation of the energy and its use in the vehicle.

GM’s fifth-generation fuel cell system (Chevrolet Volt) is half the size of its predecessor, yet it provides the same power and performance. The fourth generation currently powers the Chevrolet Sequel concept vehicle. The Sequel stores 8 kg of hydrogen and delivers a range of 483 km (300 miles). The fuel cell Volt will also deliver 483 km range, but with only 4.0 kg of hydrogen.

Project Driveway – World’s Largest Fuel Cell Vehicle Fleet by Chevrolet

GM will build more than 100 Chevrolet Equinox Fuell Cell vehicles and will begin placing them with selected US customers in the fall of 2007, as part of a comprehensive deployment plan dubbed “Project Driveway.” Designed to gain comprehensive learnings 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 different driving environments – will operate these vehicles and refuel with hydrogen in three geographic areas: California, the New York metropolitan are and Washington D.C.

Enabled by GM’s fourth-generation fuel cell propulsion system, the Equinox Fuel Cell is a fully-functional crossover vehicle, engineered for 50,000 miles of life. Importantly, the Equinox Fuel Cell is able to start and operate in sub-freezing temperatures during its 50, 000-mile life.

How Fuel Cells Work

A fuel cell harnesses the electricity created in the chemical reaction that occurs when hydrogen and oxygen are combined. Hundreds of fuel cells are “stacked” together, combining their electrical outputs into enough electricity to power a car.

In the not-too-distant future, fuel cells will change how we live our everday lives. They will power our vehicles, homes and office buildings more efficiently and with significantly less impact on the environment than fossil fuels. However, four important challenges – hydrogen storage, cost reduction, durability and infrastructure development – must be solved. GM is working to solve these problems.

Click here to see an animated graphic illustrating how fuel cells work.

Fuel Cell Technologies

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Hydrogen fuel cell	Fuel cell and by-wire	Fuel cell and by-wire concept