DETROIT – General Motors and the U.S. Army are modifying a Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup truck to run on a commercial hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.
"Hydrogen fuel cell technology is important to GM's advanced propulsion portfolio and this enables us to put our technology to the test in a vehicle that will face punishing military duty cycles," said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM's Global Fuel Cell Engineering activities.
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GM and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, or TARDEC, are working to create a vehicle using fuel cell propulsion which has very high low-end torque capability, useful in off-road environments. It also offers exportable electric power and quiet operation.
"The potential capabilities hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can bring to the Warfighter are extraordinary, and our engineers and scientists are excited about the opportunity to exercise the limits of this demonstrator," said TARDEC Director Paul Rogers.
GM and TARDEC have fuel cell development research facilities located between Pontiac and Warren where they evaluate new fuel cell designs and materials.
Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology helps address two major environmental challenges with automobiles today – petroleum use and carbon dioxide emissions. Fuel cell vehicles can operate on renewable hydrogen from sources like wind and biomass. Water vapor is the only emission.