General Motors Co. (GM) has put its hand up for assistance with their fuel cell program in the US, saying that Government help and industry partnerships are needed to establish hydrogen fuelling infrastructure to help create demand. A GM press release notes hydrogen-powered fuel cells are a few years away from widespread commercial use because of the need for additional investment and partnership, along with expanded availability of hydrogen fueling stations.
A second generation hydrogen fuel cell system in development by GM is half the size, 220 pounds lighter and uses less than half the precious metal of the current generation in the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle. “Hardware mechanization has been dramatically simplified, which will help reduce cost, simplify manufacturing and improve durability”, said Charles Freese, executive director of GM Fuel Cell Activities.
GM says the production intent fuel cell powertrain can be packaged under the hood in about the same space as a four-cylinder engine. It contains GM’s fifth-generation fuel cell stack, which could be commercialized in the 2015 time frame.
“GM has invested more than $1.5 billion in fuel cell technology and we are committed to continuing to invest, but we no longer can go it alone,” Freese said. “As we approach a costly part of the program, we will require government and industry partnerships to install a hydrogen infrastructure and help create a customer pull for the products.”
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