GM Canada Partnership Key as Chevrolet Prepares to Launch the World's Largest Fuel Cell Vehicle Fleet

OSHAWA, ON - There was a special Canadian connection today when General Motors Corp. committed to building the world's largest fuel cell vehicle fleet during the Company's reveal of its next generation fuel cell vehicle - the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell.

"General Motors is demonstrating its commitment to hydrogen fuel cells as the answer for taking the automobile out of the environmental debate and reducing our dependence on petroleum," said Arturo Elias, President, GM Canada. "We are especially proud that through partnerships with the Federal and Ontario governments, our Canadian operations will play an important role in the preparation of the Equinox Fuel Cell which will be powered by GM's most advanced fuel cell propulsion system to-date. This demonstrates an important milestone on GM's pathway to automotive-competitive fuel cell propulsion technology development."

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Sweet. Does Canada produce clean hydrogen?

Chevrolet To Launch World's Largest Fuel Cell Vehicle Fleet

More Than 100 to Debut in 2007 in First Meaningful Market Test of Fuel Cell Vehicles

SAN DIEGO – General Motors committed to building the world’s largest fuel cell vehicle fleet today by announcing its next-generation fuel cell vehicle – the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell.

GM will build more than 100 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles and will begin placing them with customers in the fall of 2007, as part of a comprehensive deployment plan dubbed “Project Driveway." Designed to gain comprehensive learnings on all aspects of the customer experience, Project Driveway constitutes the first meaningful market test of fuel cell vehicles anywhere. A variety of drivers – in differing driving environments – will operate these vehicles and refuel with hydrogen in three geographic areas: California, the New York metropolitan area and Washington D.C.

“General Motors is demonstrating its commitment to hydrogen fuel cells as the answer for taking the automobile out of the environmental debate and reducing our dependence on petroleum," said Larry Burns, GM vice president, research & development and strategic planning. “The Equinox Fuel Cell is powered by GM’s most advanced fuel cell propulsion system to date, and demonstrates an important milestone on our pathway to automotive-competitive fuel cell propulsion technology development."

Enabled by GM’s fourth-generation fuel cell propulsion system, the Equinox Fuel Cell is a fully-functional crossover vehicle, engineered for 50,000 miles of life. Importantly, the Equinox Fuel Cell is able to start and operate in sub-freezing temperatures during its 50,000-mile life. It is expected to meet all applicable 2007 U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and is equipped with a long list of standard safety features including driver and passenger frontal air bags and roof rail side-impact air bags; anti-lock braking system (ABS); StabiliTrak stability enhancement technology and OnStar, while providing all of the environmental benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology.

"The Equinox Fuel Cell is a real-world vehicle with real-world performance," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “The fuel cell technology is seamlessly integrated into a uniquely styled crossover vehicle that is distinctively Chevrolet. The Equinox Fuel Cell joins Chevrolet’s family of advanced gas-saving and alternative fuel vehicles."

The Project Driveway market test will provide comprehensive insight into all aspects of the customer experience, including reaction to the exciting, smooth and quiet performance of a fuel cell vehicle, and refueling with clean hydrogen gas. “These learnings will directly influence future fuel cell vehicle generations and ultimate market acceptance," Peper said. "With Chevrolet being GM’s global volume brand, it makes sense that Chevy will lead GM’s fuel cell vehicle commercialization charge."

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Upcoming Equinox MCE?

I like the frontend better than the current. Wonder if thats going to be the front end of the 2008 models?

Interesting how this info isn't all over the news. This is 10x that than hybrids.

Make the front of the fuel cell Equinox less tall, and it would make for a nice MCE. As is? Just plain no.

so, this will be available when? looks good though.

the auto press would deride anyways and focus on cheap plastic.

Anyone notice the Torrent headlights?

The 50,000 mile life will kill it! I would bet that the price will be 20% higher then a standard Equinox, and with a 50K mile life, not many will want one.

The 50,000 mile life will kill it! I would bet that the price will be 20% higher then a standard Equinox, and with a 50K mile life, not many will want one.

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Read the article again. GM is only putting out 100 of these to study how well they operate in the real world. There will be other improvements before they start to sell them regularly to the public.

BTW, I'm not trying to be a jerk. I just thought you might have missed the limited production and use of these vehicles.

Edited September 20, 200619 yr by zhawk

Anyone notice the Torrent headlights?

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yup.

its a cost savings thing so they can afford the GM badges

I hope that those who are participating in Project Driveway are doing so with strict instructions that Toyota or others are prohibited from evaluating the cars.

Secondly, I hope that GM can bring these to market in the near future rather than test and study them for the next ten years. It would be wonderful to see GM seize the initiative and relegate the Prius to the sidelines.