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GM HydroGen Minivan
The GM Hydrogen4 minivan is the next generation fuel cell vehicle
from General Motors that one-ups the Hydrogen3 minivan. The GM Hydrogen4
was rolled out in Germany as part of the company's Project Driveway
program.
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GM HydroGen 3 Minivan |
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The GM Hydrogen4 uses a 440-cell fuel cell stack, 73 Kw electric
motor and has three carbon fiber hydrogen tanks that help propel
the vehicle to a range of around 200 miles. The GM Hydrogen4 has
a top speed of around 100 mph. The GM Hydrogen4 is also based upon
the Opel Zafira like the Hydrogen3 vehicle.
General Motor's HydroGen3 vehicle is the last general fuel cell
vehicle that marked yet another milestone for GM in regards to pursuing
a lineup of greener vehicles. The GM HydroGen3 is an environmentally
friendly fuel cell minivan that has been used by FedEx as a delivery
vehicle for real world testing trials.
According to Raymond Grigg Chairman and CEO of the Japan division
of General Motors, "To really prove that fuel cell vehicles
are equal to or better than conventional, internal combustion vehicles,
you need to operate them under tough, every-day conditions. Our
fuel cell technology has advanced to the point where it's important
to involve a real heavy-duty commercial user in our research and
development activities. We expect to learn a lot by having FedEx
Express put our HydroGen3 to the test on their daily delivery runs
on the streets of Tokyo. This is how you truly prove durability
and dependability."
The HydroGen3 is designed based on the Opel Zafira MPV. Packed
with more power then HydroGen1, and the latest of the HydroGen series,
GM HygroGen3 has a simpler start up procedure and a more compact
fuel cell stack. Not exactly a racecar (though it did participate
in the Monte Carlo Rally), the HydroGen 3 accelerates from 0 - 60
mph in approximately 16 seconds. It has a top speed of 100 mph,
which is respectable enough. The GM HydroGen 3 is powered by a 60
kW / 82 PS three-phase asynchronous motor. GM is testing both liquid
hydrogen and compressed hydrogen storage systems with the HydroGen3.
The GM Hydrogen 3 has the same 5-seating capacity as the Opel Zafira
and has participated in various demonstration projects around the
world including Berlin, Germany. Two of the breakthroughs for the
HydroGen3 has been the elimination of a buffer battery found in
early versions to deal with peak electrical usage and a method for
humidifying the fuel cell stack.
Here are some facts about the HydroGen3:
- Five seat, front wheel drive
- Fuel cell propulsion system packed as a single unit
The fuel cell propulsion system has:
- 200 individual fuel cells wired in a series
- Self humidifying stack
- Continuous output : 94 kilowatts
The liquid hydrogen storage system of the GM HydroGen3 is equipped
with:
- vacuum insulated stainless steel tank
- capacity: 4.6 kilograms of liquefied hydrogen (temperatures
of minus 253 degrees C )
- driving range : 250 miles
Compressed 700 hydrogen tanks have the following features:
- Two carbon composite tanks
- Service pressure: 10,000 psi
- Capacity: 3.1 kilograms of compressed hydrogen
- Driving range: 270km (170 miles)
The GM HydrogeGen3 was the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle certified
by the Japanese government for operation on regular roads. Another
joint venture GM has for the GM HydroGen3 is with Shell. It's two
year program is being conducted in Washington DC giving the Members
of Congress the chance to test drive the fuel cell vehicles. The
US Postal Service also is using the GM HygroGen3 mini-van to deliver
mail in and around the Washington DC area.
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