Project Driveway Begins: GM-Volt.com Test Drive of the Chevy Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Car
As we have reported, GM has started it’s Project Driveway program in which 100 hydrogen fuel cell cars will be loaned to 100 U.S. drivers in NY, LA, and DC. Here in NY, I had the chance to drive off in one of these Equinoxes and recorded the experience in the video below the post.
In speaking with GM fuel cell executives, it seems clear they are serious about getting hydrogen cars on the road. Project Driveway will last 3-1/2 years, they then hope to use the consumer feedback to begin a production process which could lead to getting the cars on the road in 2013.
GM argues that substantial hydrogen can be generated from natural gas (CH4) with a net effect of less energy expenditure and less CO2 emission than petroleum use. They feel it could work in highly populated areas by building a few strategically located filling centers at a cost of $2 million each. It won’t work in large low-population density regions.
About one half of the hydrogen already produced in the U.S. is currently used to “scrub” sulfur out of petroleum. Thus, this hydrogen could be used to store vehicular energy, be turned into water in fuel cell cars, and the sulfur-containing petroleum can stay in Saudi Arabia. Net effect: petroleum displacement.
Right now, there is just one hydrogen fueling station in the NYC region in White Plains. The first two chosen east coast real-world drivers for Project Driveway live or work there, one is a teacher and the other an attorney. They will get their cars in January. GM hopes to use this project to convince goverment to help set up a few more hydrogen fueling stations in the region. Click play below and take a drive with me.
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28 Responses to “Project Driveway Begins: GM-Volt.com Test Drive of the Chevy Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Car”
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Thanks Lyle, great movie.
Awesome job, you’re getting first hand access to some seriously cool stuff these days
Was the regenerative braking noticeable or difficult to get used to, and was it adjustable?
Lyle, That was really cool. Although I think hydrogen is a complete waste of time and man power, I would have loved to drive it for the experience. As usual, you did a wonderful job letting us know about this. Thank you.
Lyle
It’s time for my daily nitpick: Natural gas is primarily methane which is CH4 vice CH3. Other than that, great article!
As for hydrogen, I am fairly optimistic. I think once people see the benefits, a lot of the criticisms about efficiency will start to wane.
Thanks Mike, changed to CH4.
AES
Regen brakes felt strong at slow braking, car has full disc brakes for harder stops.
Once again, me being the most ignorant one here, I have a question about regenerative braking.
Does regenerative braking only happen when the driver steps on the brake, or does it also happen when the driver takes her/his foot off the gas pedal and let the vehicle slow down gradually without touching the brake?
Interesting that they said hydrogen can be generated from natural gas “with a net effect of less energy expenditure and less CO2 emission than petroleum use”. That’s probably true for equal sized SUV’s. It’s also probably true compared to burning the natural gas to make steam and electricity and then distribute it across the grid, which is what they’re apparently happy to do in California.
I think an even better way to make hydrogen is from the waste heat of existing power plants.
Great video Lyle. I have to admit that I got goosebumps thinking about the future when you will be bringing us a video of your first Volt test-drive. Hopefully GM will have some demo units of the final production vehicle available in the coming year. We can hope.
The Kwx10 meter was pretty cool and I love that GM included an lcd screen that displays vehicle power information. Also, the silent operation was truely spectacular. Just imagine how the down-town areas of cities will sound after the silent revolution.
Concerning fuel cell technology in general, I think it has potential some potential but not for another 30-50 years. Until then, just give me my Volt.
Wow, you were driving like a bat out of hell at the end there! I bet the GM guy’s heart was racing.
I don’t understand how we can see a working hydrogen vehicle which is about 20 years out but don’t seem to have the volt which is about two years out. What’s up with this? It seems to me it would make more sense to have you driving around in a Volt.
rashiid, regenerative braking usually starts when the driver lifts off the throttle. This usually imitates when you let off the throttle with a car in gear.
Then pressure on the brake increases the rate of regeneration, which increases drag. If the brake input goes further than full regeneration, the physical brakes apply pressure and slow the vehicle down.
One complaint - whoever edited that video didn’t do a very good job. It cut from one point to another before the first point was done.
Matt986, thank you for explaining that to me.
So assuming I can always come to a slow stop, I will never use the brake pads. I love that.
Thanks again.
What I have gathered from GM explanations is that, hydrogen vehicles are just commuter cars to be used around town because stations would be sparse outside densely populated areas. Why then, would you not just build an electric vehicle? If Tesla can get a roadster to 245 miles in 2007, I am sure other car companies could get a sedan to 300 miles in 2013.
I’m neck and neck with Rashiid for scientific ignorance here, but what about home hydrogen generation?
I drive
Thanks Lyle! Storing electricity as Hydrogen may be 75% less efficient than just using the electricity but it is also significantly less expensive to store unused renewable (and free) solar, wind, wave electricity as hydrogen instead of using expensive and complex batteries.
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Solar_Hydrogen
BUT, there is still that pesky $Trillion dollar infrastructure problem. In fact, Vehicle to Grid (V2G) will add MILLIONS of batteries to the level out the grid and significantly reduce the costs of all forms of electricity so hydrogen may be moot.
The key here is that this vehicle is Electric Drive and electricity can come from many different renewable and non-polluting sources and E-Flex will allow each of us to choose that source for ourselves.
Hey, what happened to the rest of my post???
I had added the thought that I drive less than 100 miles a week. Why couldn’t I use PVs on my garage to generate hydrogen via electrolysis, which led to the question, what is the point? If we had a next generation power grid with clean/renewable sources such as wind/solar/geothermal/nuclear what do we need a hydrogen infrastructure for???
Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but did anyone else see “Socket rocket: Plug-in Prius shows potential in test runs” in yesterday’s LA Times business section?
This is Times reporter Martin Zimmerman’s account of his test drive of a plug-in Prius prototype during a trip to the Tokyo Motor Show.
They are not out of the game yet folks.
Noel,
If I read it correct the Prius plug in will only add 8 more miles and they are saying as battery technologically is available. In addition to this no mention of the speeds that will be obtainable. I still feel the VOLT is the way to go.
Don’t forget that for a PHEV that the all-electric range is normally about a quarter to a half of what you get in an RxEV. 8 miles is not that bad for a plug-in Prius. It’s nothing for a Volt, though. I like the Sequel preview. Thanks Lyle, I bet that was awesome! It gives a look at what things may be like if we do build a hydrogen infrastructure. And, by the way, is $2 million a lot of money for a new refueling station? Does anybody know how much a new gas station is? I personally see more potential in biofuels with electricity than I do with hydrogen, but hydrogen doesn’t seem bad, though. Anything but petro-fuels!
Tom- I agree. While any PHEV is a good thing in my book (including the 8-mile PHEV Prius), I would prefer to wait the extra year or two for the Volt. I just wouldn’t be able to live with a 8-mile PHEV when I knew there was a 40-mile model available.
Tom, #18 and Drake, #20:
I completely agree with you. I am not about to be seen dead driving a Japanese car under any circumstances. Otherwise, I would have bought a Prius long since.
I am just saying that GM had better not back off now. If this is what Toyota is allowing the press to drive now, what else do you think they may have up their sleeves? I haven’t heard about any press drives of the Volt, even if it is at a company test track.
I hear that H2 cars cannot traverse the NY NJ Port Authority Hudson crossings. How is this restriction being addressed?
Looks nice, but I am still unconvinced of the large scale viability of hydrogen vehicles due to distribution issues. It might be a good platform for testing and perfecting technologies destined for full electric & PHEVs, or for fleet vehicles that return-to-base regularly. But for the general population?
There is a Hydrogen Fueling Station located in Phoenix, Arizona. I have been told by the Arizona Public Service Representative that the heat of the Arizona desert has been a major issue in testing hydrogen cars here in Arizona–the fuel stack cannot adequtely convert the hydrogen into electricity with heat exceeding 90 degrees F. (I hope this can be resolved soon)
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2003/04/28/story4.html
Hi guys,
When you prepare to buy a EV, who is the best in making electric motors? Who is the best in making fuel cells?
Thanks.
every week i drive from North Carolina to Nevada. so a electric car will be much good for me. i hope something nice comes out soon.
How can I become a test driver for this in the DC area?
[...] are around 170,000 gasoline fueling stations in the U.S. Right now, hydrogen fueling stations cost about $2 million to build. However, this will obviously go down a lot over time. I’m [...]