GM Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Creeping Toward Reality

DETROIT — While much of the media's attention is focused on the debut of the Chevrolet Volt, General Motors reminded the public on Tuesday that it is making serious inroads with its fuel-cell-vehicle program. Writing in the GM FastLane blog, the company's executive director of fuel-cell activities said the fuel-cell program left research and development "about a year ago and became part of Powertrain (operations), where it is treated like any pre-production program." In short, the GM hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle is making progress toward reality.

"It is still expensive, but the costs are coming down dramatically," wrote Charles Freese, GM executive director of fuel-cell activities. "Our next-generation fuel-cell architecture is 220 pounds lighter, uses about half the parts and roughly a third of the precious metals, compared to the still impressive [Chevrolet] Equinox demonstration vehicles."

He hastened to add that the next-gen fuel-cell system "is not yet to the point where we have vehicles on the road."

"For today, we must help people understand that the fuel-cell vehicles they can drive now would still be out of reach for most buyers," Freese wrote. "Fuel cells must cross the same 'valley of death' that every new technology must endure. GM is developing advanced hydrogen fuel-cell designs that are clearly on a path toward affordable hydrogen-powered vehicles."

Inside Line says: GM's hydrogen fuel-cell program lives, but it will be a while before one of these vehicles ends up in your driveway. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent