First hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to go 300
miles without refueling
TARRYTOWN – General
Motors Corp. made history today as its Chevy
Sequel – the world’s most technologically
advanced automobile – became the first
electrically-driven fuel cell vehicle to achieve
300 miles on one tank of hydrogen, in and out of
traffic on public roads, while producing zero
emissions.
“With this drive, General
Motors has reached another important milestone
toward the commercialization of our fuel cell
vehicles, by achieving the range expected by
today’s consumers,” said Larry Burns, GM vice
president, research & development and strategic
planning. ”And we did it while producing zero
emissions, as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle only
emits water. In addition, the hydrogen produced
at Niagara Falls , used to fuel Sequel, was
derived from hydropower – a clean, renewable
resource. This means that the entire process –
from the creation of the hydrogen to the use of
the fuel in the vehicle -- was virtually carbon
dioxide (CO2) free.”
,.
Sequel was introduced in 2005
at the North American International Auto Show in
Detroit and the first drivable version appeared
last fall. It is the first vehicle in the world
to successfully integrate a hydrogen fuel cell
propulsion system with a broad menu of advanced
technologies such as steer-and brake-by-wire
controls, wheel hub motors, lithium-ion
batteries and a lightweight aluminum structure.
It uses clean, renewable hydrogen as a fuel and
emits only water vapor. Now it is the first fuel
cell vehicle to achieve real-world range.
“General Motors is proving
that advanced technology can remove the
automobile from the environmental debate and
reduce our dependence on petroleum," Burns said.
“Chevy Sequel clearly shows that our vision for
the future of the automobile is real and
sustainable.”
The 300-mile drive through the
state of New York began at General Motors’ Fuel
Cell Activity Center in Honeoye Falls , where
the engineers whom have developed the company’s
fuel cell technology, officially sent the Sequel
off into the history books. “It is our fuel cell
teams’ tremendous record of success and absolute
dedication to this tremendously important
cause,” Burns said, “which will ultimately
enable our country, and our world, to diversify
our energy sources and displace large amounts of
petroleum.”
The Sequel achieved the
300-mile mark and crossed the finish line in
Tarrytown as General Motors reiterated its
commitment to bringing part of its next fleet of
over 100 Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell vehicles
under the “Project Driveway” demonstration
program to the greater NY metropolitan area this
fall.
