GM's fuel cell HydroGen4 hits the streets in Berlin
Click above image for high-res gallery of the HydroGen4
With Project Driveway running along in the US, GM has announced another hydrogen fuel cell vehicle on-road test, this one in Berlin. Nine companies will use Opel HydroGen4 vehicles as they go about their regular business. The vehicles are emblazoned with the company name and declarations of their H2-friendly status. The nine companies are: ADAC, Allianz, Coca Cola, Hilton, Linde, Schindler, Axel Springer, Total and Veolia. Where will they get the hydrogen they need to power their rides? Not sure, but apparently there is a Total H2 station somewhere in the city. Support for the test is also coming from the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), funded by the Federal Department for Transport, Building and Urban Development. Service willl be done at a specially-equipped Opel dealer.
The Opel HydroGen4 uses a 73kW-synchronous electric motor capable of a 0-62 mph acceleration time of about 12 seconds and has a top speed of 100mph.
Gallery: GM HydroGen4 in Berlin
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE:
GM HydroGen4 FUEL CELL VEHICLES SET FOR FIRST REAL-WORLD EURO TEST
* Nine Berlin companies to participate in GM's zero-emission test programme
* First European test of vehicles in GM's global fuel cell fleet
* 700,000kms already completed in global testing
Berlin - The goal of achieving sustainable mobility with zero emissions came a step closer today when GM announced the European part of its biggest ever test programme for fuel cell vehicles.
Nine companies will be the first to operate GM's HydroGen4 zero-emission vehicles in the Berlin area as they go about their day-to-day business: ADAC, Allianz, Coca Cola, Hilton, Linde, Schindler, Axel Springer, Total and Veolia. This real-world road test will run under the umbrella of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), a German Federal Department for Transport, Building and Urban Development funded project focused on proving the day-to-day suitability of hydrogen as a fuel for road transport.
"We are delighted that these high profile business partners have joined us as we take zero emission fuel cell technology forward with the HydroGen4 programme," said GM Europe President Carl-Peter Forster.
HydroGen4 on the Road
As an integral part of GM's overall advanced technology strategy towards further electrification of the car, this fourth generation fuel cell vehicle is the culmination of more than 10 years development work with hydrogen and fuel cell technology. The HydroGen4 features improvements in everyday usability, such as performance and durability. Globally, GM deploys more than 100 vehicles of this type in its Project Driveway testing programme in the U.S., Japan, Korea, China, and Germany. In the U.S., more than 100,000 people have applied as mainstream drivers for the market test. To date, 3,400 people have driven the vehicles and 30 families have used the vehicle on a daily basis over a period of around three months. In total, the vehicles were driven almost 435,000 miles. Feedback from these demonstration activities not only gives GM engineers essential validation data, but also provides a valuable insight into the likely ownership and driving experience of future customers.
The vehicles are equipped with a wireless data transfer system that assists engineers by uploading vehicle performance data to a company server. Maintenance of the vehicles deployed in Berlin will be done at a regular Opel dealer equipped with the personnel and tools necessary for servicing fuel cell vehicles.
HydroGen4's fuel cell stack uses 440 single cells which combine hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, with water vapour as the only by-product, and therefore zero emissions. The fuel cell stack provides the electric energy for the 73kW-synchronous electric motor, delivering acceleration of 0-62mph in around 12 seconds and a top speed of 100mph.
The electric motor's instant torque characteristics also give the vehicle an excellent pick-up from low speed. The HydroGen4 is fitted with a 1.8 kWh buffer battery to store energy from the vehicle's regenerative braking system and cover peak electrical loads. The three carbon-fibre composite tanks hold 4.2 kg of hydrogen at a pressure of 700 bars, sufficient for an operating range of up to 320 kilometres.
HydroGen4 can start and run in sub-zero temperatures, a considerable advance over the previous generation technology and an important benefit for everyday usability. It is designed to be as safe as conventional vehicles and includes unique hydrogen safety features in each of its major systems.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TX CHL Instructor 2:32PM (11/26/2008)
"Berlin - The goal of achieving sustainable mobility with zero emissions came a step FARTHER AWAY today when GM announced the European part of its biggest ever test programme for fuel cell vehicles."
There, I corrected it for you.
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george 3:48PM (11/26/2008)
pessimist.......
TX CHL Instructor 3:53PM (11/26/2008)
Realist.
GM has been pissing away R&D money on the hydrogen sinkhole for a couple of years now. It isn't the only mistake they've made, either. They will probably file for bankruptcy by the end of this year. I sincerely hope the government does NOT bail them out with my tax money; that will simply make the pain of the inevitable much worse. You always get more of whatever you subsidize, so it's not a good idea to subsidize bad business models.
TX CHL Instructor 3:56PM (11/26/2008)
"HydroGen4's fuel cell stack uses 440 single cells which combine hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, with water vapour as the only by-product, and therefore zero emissions."
Unless, of course, you count the fact that commercial production of hydrogen is accomplished by methane reformation, and as a result, produces more CO2 than you would get from burning gasoline to get the same amount of usable energy.
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gorr 5:19PM (11/26/2008)
Why are they not cashing in some money with these fuelcell cars instead by renting some to normal consumers like me? They lose money each day so they have some possible revenues with these vehicules and they don't cash in money and they give them to politicians for free and they said that their problems come from the financial crisis done by politicians and they give them gifts. Im sure they negociate futur policies for car manufacturers association worldwide. They are not free market advocate except in their publicity but behind close doors they work with goverment ruling and they build s%$t for american consumers and consumers worldwide like toyota too now that been better but is now on their last miles too when consumers will notice that they work on the same model then gm. They burried many great innovations with mutual agreements between almost all car manufacturers to sell old fart and cancerigen cars that if you breath it for one minutes , you die right after by asphyxia.
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nagmashot 9:31AM (11/27/2008)
Where will they get the hydrogen they need to power their rides?
Berlin has three public hydrogen stations and 2 new planed.. little Germany has today about the same numbers of hydrogen stations as the USA...
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gorr 10:45AM (11/27/2008)
@nagmashot
From the beginning of the car industry they could have adopted hydrogen, not just only in germany or usa but everywhere and not just for hydrogen fuelcell cars like the one that gm give for free while not casching any money and paid by future tax for the future bailout of this compagny. They could have adopted hydrogen gas for internal combustion engines in 1900 and it was easier then gasoline to make because it's made from water and electricity. If they were intelligent which it's not the case of any automaker they would build hydrogen dispensing machine for their own cars that they intent to sell to customer. A hydrogen dispensing machine can cost as little as 150$ if it's installed into the car or 10 000$ to 100 000$ if it's an exterior machine installed at exxon or shell or bp or chevron or texaco or hess or seven eleven to fuel compressed hydrogen tank in hydrogen fuelcell cars. Thise machine can sell the hydrogen at 40 cents gallon equivalent because it's made with water and electricity.
If someone were interrested to make money in fuel industry they can invent and build hydrogen dispensing machinery to be installed at fueling points to fuel hydrogen cars or old fart cars that can be converted to use this fuel.
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