GM starting to promote hydrogen fuel-cell 'Chevrolet Sequel'

[kaisen]

General Motors is set to make a major announcement about how it will promote its fuel-cell vehicles next year, with what will likely be a major emphasis on celebrities and Southern California. At the same time, the automaker has decided to make Chevrolet — its most mainstream marque — its "fuel-cell brand."

In what may be seen as foreshadowing of GM's upcoming announcement, the automaker released pictures on Monday of Anthony Kiedis, the lead singer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, driving the Chevrolet Sequel hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle after a test drive at Camp Pendleton, Calif. GM spokesman Scott Fosgard said Kiedis "asked if he could drive it." "He is very pro-fuel cell," Fosgard said. "He might be supporting us as we go forward in terms of lending his name. He has a passion for the environment." Chevrolet was at Camp Pendleton, allowing journalists and analysts to test the Sequel.



The Chevrolet Sequel, formerly called the "GM Sequel," got its new name this week. The automaker also rolled out its first driveable version of the Sequel, which was introduced in 2005 at the North American International Auto Show, here on Monday. The Sequel has a top speed of 100 mph and a 300-mile range. It is powered by a 72 kW fuel stack and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 10 seconds. The Sequel uses renewable hydrogen as its fuel and emits only water vapor.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' Web site doesn't address the Sequel specifically, but it does note that "many of the gods, goddesses, angels, demons, and elementals of the universe have conspired to send messages from beyond through the Red Hot Chili Peppers for the current civilization." It's also noteworthy that the activist band's playlist includes such songs as "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes."

What this means to you: GM is rocketing ahead with its fuel-cell plans and will likely turn to people like Kiedis to help promote the petroleum-free rides.

[kaisen]

Nostatic has lots in common with the Chili Peppers:

Both are from SoCal

Both play kick-ass bass riffs

Both believe that 'True Men Don't Kill Coyotes'

err.....okay, except for that last part

[Jim Richards]

Ugh, those photos make it look butt-ugly. Why can't someone make an attractive green machine?

Kudo's for trying, though.

[widebody911]

Sequel as in 'more of the same'?

[Nathans_Dad]

And all this in spite of Bush hating the environment and not funding alternative fuel sources. Kudos for GM for blazing the trail!!

[gaijindabe]

Looks like a scam to keep the SUV assembly lines running. What sort of tax-dodge will these things be granted?

Simple physics folks - smaller, lighter vehicles with less mechanical and physical resistance (and maybe regenerative braking) will save energy - the rest is smoke and mirrors.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
Looks like a scam to keep the SUV assembly lines running. What sort of tax-dodge will these things be granted?

Simple physics folks - smaller, lighter vehicles with less mechanical and physical resistance (and maybe regenerative braking) will save energy - the rest is smoke and mirrors.

+3.14

[hytem]

GM needs something like this to stay competitive. It should be pushing the technology envelope with all the resources it has. I had heard they were developing an all-electric car for China, but then I saw in Panorama that an electric car built in China was going to sell in The U.S. this fall... I also heard GM had a nice electric car being test marketed in California--and then they suddenly pulled it off the market a few years back.

Clearly, the U.S. has to shift to electric cars in a bigger way. Gasahol isn't going to do it. The price of gasoline has become much too volatile and dependent on external factors and Middle East politics. It has become a National Security issue.

[kaisen]

Hydrogen cell technology demands a fairly large vehicle platform. It takes up space and adds weight. At least for now. BMW is initially rolling out hydrogen in the 7-series. They said it wouldn't fit in a 3 or 5.

The sequel isn't really an SUV, it is a tall wagon or crossover. Think of it as a llarger Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix, or a smaller Cadillac SRX. Unibody with front wheel or all wheel drive, not a truck based rear drive with a frame.

Kiedis is 5'8" so you can see the Sequel isn't huge, but it's no Lotus Elise.

[nostatic]

I'm not a true man

*sniff*

[kaisen]

Originally posted by hytem
I also heard GM had a nice electric car being test marketed in California--and then they suddenly pulled it off the market a few years back.

Are you talking about the Saturn EV1?



1100 were built from 96-99. They were all leased to customers in California. There were waiting lists for potential drivers, and people who had them did like them. But they were reported to cost GM up to $80,000 each so they were a losing proposition.

[kaisen]

http://www.media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=3&docid=28536

GM Reinvents The Automobile: Chevrolet Sequel Is A Better, Cleaner, Petroleum-Free Solution

SAN DIEGO – General Motors today announced a driveable version of the most technologically advanced automobile ever built – the Chevrolet Sequel, GM’s solution to provide the world with a cleaner, petroleum-free vehicle that is better in nearly every way.

“General Motors is proving that advanced technology can remove the automobile from the environmental debate and reduce our dependence on petroleum," said Larry Burns, GM vice president, research & development and strategic planning. “Chevy Sequel clearly shows that our vision for the future of the automobile is real and sustainable.”

Sequel was introduced in 2005 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. 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.

“Sequel fundamentally changes the DNA of today’s automobiles … exchanging an internal combustion engine, petroleum and mechanical systems for fuel cell propulsion, hydrogen and electrical systems,” Burns said. “In Sequel, GM has created a real vehicle that promises to excite customers and lead to long-term, sustainable automotive transportation.”

Compared to other fuel cell vehicles, Sequel has an unprecedented range of 300 miles between fill-ups and spirited acceleration, attaining 60 mph in just 10 seconds. Sequel also has all the amenities one would expect in a premium, five-passenger crossover, including impressive styling, a spacious interior and an all-aluminum body and structure designed to meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. It has a low-profile, skateboard-like chassis that houses all of its main propulsion, braking and chassis components.

“Sequel is a vehicle that is better in nearly every way – quicker, more sure-footed, easier to handle, easier to build and better looking, while being safe and emitting only water vapor,” said Burns.

Other benefits include:

Unequaled control on snow and ice, or uneven terrain
70-percent more torque for unparalleled acceleration
Shorter braking distances
Ability to “talk” to other vehicles about traffic congestion or road conditions
“Four years ago, our chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner, challenged us to completely rethink the automobile,” Burns said. “With the Chevy Sequel, we have now met Rick’s challenge by reinventing the automobile and making it real. We’ve proven a new DNA for vehicles that is viable for the future.”

[kaisen]

All aluminum body and structure? Sounds like smoke and mirrors may also have some substance.

[Nathans_Dad]

One question. How do they produce the hydrogen fuel?? If they have to burn fossil fuels to make the hydrogen fuel, does it really make a difference? Is there an energy gain with hydrogen or is it like ethanol?

[Moneyguy1]

Question from someone who does NOT know the answer?

What is the difference betwen a "fuel cell" and a "fuel tank"?

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by kaisen
All aluminum body and structure? Sounds like smoke and mirrors may also have some substance.

This thing is rather large:

Sequel, about the size of a Cadillac SRX, travels up to 300 miles on its hydrogen supply, and accelerates to 60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Current-generation fuel cell vehicles have a range of between 170 and 250 miles and cover 0-60 mph in between 12-16 seconds, depending upon whether a battery is used.

But this is a step away from the usual unibody or ladder frame...interesting:

“With Sequel,” Burns said, “virtually everything is packaged in an 11-inch ‘skateboard’ chassis, building on what we first showed the world in the AUTOnomy and Hy-wire. Sequel points to a vehicle that, in the future, will be better in nearly every way – quicker, surer-footed, easier to handle, easier to build, better looking, safer and only emits water vapor.”

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_tech/100_news/sequel_011005.html

[kaisen]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Question from someone who does NOT know the answer?

What is the difference betwen a "fuel cell" and a "fuel tank"?

A Fuel Cell typically describes the entire system that converts stored hydrogen to some other form of power (electricity in the case of the Sequel).

The fuel tanks are just storage.

[Moneyguy1]

Thanks!!

[kaisen]

Originally posted by Nathans_Dad
One question. How do they produce the hydrogen fuel?? If they have to burn fossil fuels to make the hydrogen fuel, does it really make a difference? Is there an energy gain with hydrogen or is it like ethanol?

It takes energy to produce hydrogen. The most promising methods are from nuclear fusion and solar capture. I'm not sure of the energy gain/loss, as it is source dependent.

[Nathans_Dad]

IMO, it is waaaayy past time for the US to increase their nuclear energy sources...