GM giving itself three years to think about hydrogen fuel cells
GM might be relaxing a bit on their previously announced plan (see links below) to mass-produce hydrogen cars in 2010. Just Auto reported yesterday that GM will now decide in 2010 whether this mass production is a good idea. Granted, GM's never said they'd have hydrogen cars on dealer lots across the country (just in hydrogen-friendly places like California), but Just Auto's article (subs req'd) makes the General out to be a lot more relaxed about the introduction of the production Sequel (or whatever).
Lars Peter Thiesen, manager of GM Europe's fuel cell deployment strategy, speaking at a media briefing at GM's test track near Frankfort, Germany, told Just Auto that GM is waiting to hit two targets (a 5,500 hour fuel cell and getting the cost of fuel cell power to about $50 per kilowatt (Thiesen said that small petrol engines cost $30 per kilowatt and a big, sophisticated engine costs $70 per kilowatt. Just Auto never quotes Thiesen saying that 2010 is the official decision date, but that's what their headline says, so don't hold GM to this statement.
Related:
[Source: Just Auto (subs req'd)]
Lars Peter Thiesen, manager of GM Europe's fuel cell deployment strategy, speaking at a media briefing at GM's test track near Frankfort, Germany, told Just Auto that GM is waiting to hit two targets (a 5,500 hour fuel cell and getting the cost of fuel cell power to about $50 per kilowatt (Thiesen said that small petrol engines cost $30 per kilowatt and a big, sophisticated engine costs $70 per kilowatt. Just Auto never quotes Thiesen saying that 2010 is the official decision date, but that's what their headline says, so don't hold GM to this statement.
Related:
[Source: Just Auto (subs req'd)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike Z 2:40PM (3/31/2007)
Like Hydrogen or not, If GM could get a fuel Cell down to that price level it would be an amazing accomplishment.
It it possible that with the development of small hydrogen reformers for natural gas or liquid fuels that such technology could be used in power generation. If they could develop a reformer that was small enough, it would give Diesel a strong competitor cost wise.
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Chris M 6:12PM (3/31/2007)
Sounds like the top GM executives are starting to suspect that the automotive future is electric but not hydrogen. H2 fuel is too bulky, too expensive and too inefficient to compete with Lithium battery electrics.
Of course, Dr. Thiesen has to be enthusiastic about H2 fuel cells, his job depends on it.
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MikeW 1:09AM (4/01/2007)
That chevy cobalt have 6 speed automatic yet?
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