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.
