News From the Auto Industry

O’Connell reported that the company has started a fleet demonstration program in the Washington, D.C., area to obtain real-time data on fuel cell vehicles. This project is being operated by Shell Hydrogen. The centerpiece of the partnership will be a real-life demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and fueling infrastructure technology. The demonstration will feature the nation’s first hydrogen pump at a Shell retail gas station to support GM’s fleet of fuel cell vehicles. O’Connell also commented that General Motors has entered into an agreement with Dow Chemical to apply GM fuel cell technology to a stationary application. If tests proceed according to plan, Dow could eventually use up to 35 megawatts of power generated by 500 GM fuel cell units. The installation would be at Dow’s operations in Freeport, Texas.

Lowery said that General Motors firmly believes that zero emission vehicles will become a reality. She also out-lined the company’s long-term plans for achieving this goal. GM, for the near term, will continue to refine and improve today’s technology. Next, from the middle of this decade and into the next, the company will focus on hybrid technologies. And for the long term, GM will develop and bring to market vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Several names have surfaced in the last two years as candidates to replace Cherry, who is retiring after working for GM since 1962 and serving as design chief since 1992.

Nearly 100 guests took part in this two-day event at the Hudson Valley Community College. All vehicles operated extremely well without any breakdowns.

A top contender is Dave Rand, executive director-advanced design. Rand’s return to Detroit in September 2002 from a stint as general director-design at GM do Brazil led many to believe he is going to replace Cherry.

Among the vehicles on display and/or ready for test driving were: GM’s “Hy-wire” advanced concept car, the “HydroGen3″ fuel cell vehicle, a Saturn SUV equipped with the Belt-Alternator-Starter system, a Chevy truck incorporating the Flex Power System, and the Allison hybrid bus. In addition, GM displayed several other vehicles that demonstrated improvements on internal combustion and diesel power plants.

GM’s third-generation fuel cell power train was presented by its “HydroGen3″ vehicle. A stationary cutaway model of this model unit was on display.

The key technical briefing was given by Elizabeth Lowery, vice president of environment and energy, and Daniel O’Connell, staff systems engineer at GM’s Global Alternative Propulsion Center.