GM Exhumes Its Hydrogen Dreams

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

It’s been said many a time that the problem with hydrogen as an energy storage system for cars is that it is always the future and never the present of transportation. Indeed, hydrogen has nearly fallen of the alt-fuel radar in recent years, as present-techs like hybrid and even electric drive have matured. But the dream is not dead. The great hydrogen hope now lives with General Motors, in the form of a new, lighter-weight fuel cell which GM says will be production-ready by 2015. The new cell is 225 lbs lighter and uses one-third less platinum than the systems being tested in GM’s 30-month “Project Driveway” Equinox fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs). That leaves more platinum for trimming Escalades, and has GM thinking that real-life series production of FCVs could be possible. GM’s Charles Freese tells Automotive News [sub]:

Our learning from Project Driveway has been tremendous. The 30 months we committed to the demonstration are winding down. But we will keep upgrades of these vehicles running and will continue learning from them while we focus efforts on the production-intent program for 2015. We will continue to use the Project Driveway fleet strategically to advance fuel cell technology, hydrogen infrastructure and GM’s vehicle electrification goals

Project Driveway has been testing the Equinox FCVs since 2007, and has logged some 1.3m test miles. Though the program is winding down, GM reveals thatsome of the 119 fuel cell electric vehicles in Project Driveway will receive hardware and software upgrades and will become part of a technology demonstration program with the U.S. Department of Energy. Others will be driven by businesses and a few will be used to continue showing that, with proper fueling infrastructure, hydrogen fuel cells are a viable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles

GM doesn’t specify the origins of this latest generation of hydrogen fuel cell, but it’s likely the product of Germany-based GM program which is currently testing the HydroGen4, a Pontiac Torrent-based testbed for GM’s latest fuel-cell technology. An Auto Motor und Sport test of the HydroGen4 showed that between 150 and 200 miles of range can be expected, with a 0-60 time of about ten seconds and a top speed of 100 MPH. The system stores hydrogen at 700 BAR, and also uses a NiMh battery to store energy from a regenerative braking system. Refueling could take as little 3 minutes at a fixed station, but it took a good 15 minutes for AM und S using a mobile fuel tanker provided by GM.

At €500k to €1m per unit, the cost-per-performance is still wildly undercompetitive with battery EVs. Though GM is touting a reduction in platinum content, the catalyst was the major weak point in the system when AM und S tested the HdroGen4 just over a year ago. At the time, GM’s Larry Burns noted that

Although the HydroGen4 uses the fourth generation of fuel cell, it will still need about three more development cycles before it’s truly production-ready. Hydrogen fuel cells will only be a true alternative in the 2016-2018 timeframe.

So, what’s changed that makes GM so optimistic about hydrogen? There’ are no details yet on the technical front, but Europe’s dirty electricity-generating mix (which limits EVs C02 benefits) is creating government incentives to develop fuel-cell alternatives there. The Clean Energy Program already has Toyota hyping hydrogen, so it’s likely that GM wants in on that government-funded action. Meanwhile the biggest concern with FCVs is refueling. According to GM’s calculations, it would cost $11.7b to create an effective hydrogen refueling network in the USA. If GM expects our government to fund that project, it will probably be waiting quite a while for that amount to shake free from DC’s overburdened budgets.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • DetroitsaRiot DetroitsaRiot on Mar 17, 2010

    They'll name it the Chevy Hindenburg.....

  • Robert Schwartz Robert Schwartz on Mar 19, 2010

    1. Platinum is $1600+ /oz. Any amount is very expensive. 2. Hydrogen is the worst possible fuel. It is expensive to make, difficult to transport and just about impossible to store. 3. Fuel cells are not much better than batteries. Beyond expensive, they don't work in cold weather, and have limited life spans. The Bloom Box mentioned above is a solid oxide fuel cell. Advantage it is cheaper, and does not need pure hydrogen. Disadvantage, it weighs several hundred pounds and has an operating temperature higher than the oven in your kitchen. It is really for fixed industrial operations only.

  • FreedMike Off topic, but folks, this site is not working well for me from a technical standpoint, and it doesn't matter if I'm using my phone, or my computer (on two different browsers). It locks up and makes it impossible to type anything in after a certain point. Anyone else having these issues?
  • Syke Kinda liked the '57, hated the '58. Then again, I hated the entire '58 GM line except for the Chevrolet. Which I liked better than the '57's. Still remember dad's '58 Impala hardtop, in the silver blue that was used as the main advertising color.
  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
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