General Motors has established extensive hydrogen fuel cell research and development facilities both in the U.S. and Europe. It has produced AUTOnomy, a concept vehicle that captures the vision and potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology, and the revolutionary Hy-wire, a vehicle unmatched in both hydrogen and electronic technology.

GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz with the Chevrolet
Sequel Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle in Camp
Pendleton, California. Download brochure for
the Chevrolet Sequel (PDF).

The Hy-wire’s fuel cell propulsion system is housed entirely in an 11-inch thick skateboard-like chassis. By-wire controls attached to the chassis through a single docking port use electrical signals instead of mechanical links of hydraulics to control steering, acceleration and braking. Without an engine, steering column or other conventional vehicle components, this concept provides unprecedented design freedom.

But visionary vehicles aren’t the only result of GM’s commitment to technology innovation and leadership:

• GM has made great strides in solving many of the challenges inherent in fuel cell technology, including the tendency to freeze and stop working in cold weather. The GM fuel cell’s freeze start-up time has decreased to less than 15 seconds for 100% power at minus 20 degrees Celsius.
• With its historic expertise in manufacturing and engineering, GM has taken a leadership position in fuel cell technology, systems, controls and gasoline/natural gas hydrogen fuel reforming.
• GM’s prototype stationary fuel cell unit already generates power for GM’s New York fuel cell development facility.
• GM recently developed a novel stack concept that enables an additional 50 percent reduction in stack size over the stack that debuted in the Sequel.
• GM’s revolutionary fuel cell vehicle, Hy-wire, has no internal combustion engine, instrument panel, brake or accelerator pedals — but it does have ample power supplied by a GM fuel cell that runs on hydrogen.
• http://www.gm.com/explore/technology/fuel_cells/fc_work.jsp