Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
GM has a minority ownership position in QUANTUM Technologies
to develop hydrogen handling and electronic control technologies for fuel
cell applications. QUANTUM is an industry leader in hydrogen storage
and handling in automotive applications. GM and Toyota have a multi-
year technology agreement on combining research on fuels for fuel cells
and fuel infrastructure with ExxonMobil.
GM will also provide 13 fuel cell powered vehicles while Shell Hydro-
gen LLC established New York State's first hydrogen service station in the
New York City metropolitan area in 2006. This is part of the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy's Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation project.
In 2005 GM's Sequel was unveiled in Detroit. The Sequel is GM's
vision of reinventing the automobile with a fusion of technologies including
advanced materials, electronic controls, computer software and advanced
propulsion.
The General Motors Sequel fuel cell concept car holds enough fuel
for 300 miles. It fits the seven kilograms of hydrogen into an 11-inch thick
skateboard chassis. The Sequel has been called a crossover SUV. Since
mechanical components are replaced by electrical parts, interior layouts can
be more open with more space in smaller vehicles.
The technology concepts first introduced in Autonomy and then Hy-
wire have become more authentic in the Sequel which demonstrates the
vision that fuel cells are the ultimate answer. GM, along with others, has
been working at reinventing the auto. GM developed its AUTOnomy and
Hy-wire concept cars. Now, with the fuel cell Sequel, GM has been able to
double the range and half the 0-60 mph acceleration of these cars in less
than three years.
The Sequel is almost the size of a Cadillac SRX. It has a 300-mile range
on a refueling of hydrogen and accelerates to 60 mph in less then 10 seconds.
Other fuel cell cars have a driving range of 170-250 miles and cover 0-60
mph in 12-16 seconds depending on whether they use a battery.
All of the drive power of the Sequel is in an 11-inch-high chassis. The
individual powered wheels provide excellent control on snow, mud, ice and
uneven terrain. GM's start-up time in freezing conditions is less than 15
seconds at -20°C. GM knew that if they are going to put these cars into the
marketplace, they would have to start in the middle of a northern winter.
GM also believes that it could eventually close down engine and
transmission factories around the world and have a single plant making
fuel cells for all of its vehicles. There are 29 types of engines made in 28 GM
plants worldwide and 20 transmissions made in 20 worldwide plants.
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