Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle reaches major milestone

October 28, 2013 0 By Bret Williams

GM hydrogen fuel cell vehicle makes significant progress

American automaker General Motors has announced that its hydrogen fuel research vehicle has reaches major milestone this week. The vehicle, called the Equinox, is meant to demonstrate the capabilities of fuel cells in the transportation sector. General Motors has been using the Equinox to gather information on the performance of fuel cells and whether these energy systems can be used as a viable replacement for conventional engines. The research vehicle is not alone in the field, of course, as several other automakers have similar projects underway around the world.

Research vehicle travels over 100,000 miles

According to General Motors, the Equinox has surpassed 100,000 miles of real-world driving, relying entirely on hydrogen fuel. The automaker notes that the vehicle has saved some 5,260 gallons of gasoline, translating in to over $18,000 worth in fuel cost savings. The vehicle has also helped several organizations garner a better understanding of the capabilities of fuel cells in the transportation sector. The Equinox has been used by the Walt Disney Company as part of its fleet in the past.

GM - Hydrogen Fuel Cell VehicleProject Driveway continues to promote hydrogen fuel in transportation

The Equinox is part of General Motors’ Project Driveway, which is focused on clean transportation. Project Driveway was launched in 2007 as a way for the automaker to examine the benefits of clean transportation and determine whether electric vehicles were a meaningful investment. The project has helped raise awareness of clean transportation, especially where hydrogen fuel cells are concerned. Project Driveway currently accounts for more than 3 million miles of real-world travel across its fleet of clean vehicles.

Auto industry likely to focus on fuel cells in the future

General Motors is not the only company testing hydrogen-powered vehicles. Other automakers are preparing to launch their own versions of hydrogen-powered vehicles within the coming years and have been deploying research models in order to raise awareness of these vehicles among consumers. Hydrogen fuel is expected to become a major focus for the global auto industry in the near future.

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