Filed under: Hydrogen, Chevrolet, GM
Video: Project Driveway launch event in Manhattan
GM held the latest in their series of Project Driveway launch events in New York this week where they held informational sessions for media and some of the prospective drivers. Lyle Dennis attended one of the sessions and got to spend some time behind the wheel of one of the fuel cell-powered Chevy Equinoxes. As most people do, he came away very impressed by how quiet the Sequel was, and most electrically-driven vehicles are. Equally impressive was the acceleration thanks to the instant torque of the motor. Check out Lyle's video after the jump.
[Source: GM-Volt]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Throwback 10:57AM (10/26/2007)
I would love to be part of this kind of real world test. Unfortunately there are no hydrogen stations near me. While many people look down on hydrogen, I think it will be viable down the road, especially for fleet use. Imagine all of the FEDEX/UPS trucks running on hydrogen. Not to mention all of the cabs and buses in the major cities. You could also have all of the delivery vehicles in cities running on the stuff. That's a lot less pollution in our cities. I applaud the automakers for pursuing all avenues to reduce our dependence on foreign fuels.
Reply
scatter 11:02AM (10/26/2007)
How is the fuel being distributed for this demonstration? Is GM installing a reformer at each tester's home or is the hydrogen being dispensed from central stations?
Reply
Tim 11:15AM (10/26/2007)
The key here is that this is a fully electrically driven vehicle which uses Hydrogen to store the electrons. I guess some will insist on calling it a fuel cell series hydrogen-electric hybrid even though it is powered by electrons. Complex is good? Someone should tell Lyle, GM, Tesla etc…
Anyway, I’m not a big fan of H2 because of the $Trillion infrastructure problem, the fact that H2 when electrolyzed from H2O is 75% Less efficient than just using the electricity in batteries and the fact that V2G may make it moot.
HOWEVER when H2 comes straight from Algae or rooftop Solar (not PV) then it begins to look a LITTLE better for use in the E-Flex range-extender because it won't degrade when stored like biofuels.
Hydrogen from Algae: http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/19438/
Solar Hydrogen: http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Solar_Hydrogen
The real problem is with our inefficient existing fleet! It will take YEARS to replace them all. What if you could DOUBLE or even TRIPLE the fuel mileage of ANY standard existing car by simply modifying the automatic transmission so that it would capture and reuse 97+% of the breaking energy and could accelerate from 0-60 in 4 seconds?
What if this modification only cost around $3,000.00 without using batteries or electric motors and also doubled the life of the car?
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Hydristor_Corporation
The key here is economy. We must make the largest, fastest moving ripple in the energy pond with the smallest stone possible.
Reply
Chris M 3:40AM (10/27/2007)
The H2 is being supplied by a handful of H2 refueling stations. The "home H2 fueling station" is nowhere near ready, and besides, GM wouldn't bother installing it in a home for a short 3 month "free lease".
I know these are prototypes, but the refueling seems rather cumbersome, having to connect a special data cable at the back of the car before connecting the H2 high pressure line at the side of the car. Couldn't they have put both connections next to each other under the same door? Or was GM too worried that a spark might set off the H2?
Reply