In our last post we shared an article in USA Today that implied GM would be cutting back on its fuel cell program, and GM’s response that the company is still fully committed to developing a fuel cell vehicle. Well, actions speak louder than words, and today GM has unveiled its 5th generation fuel cell stack, with many improvements that will help create a commercially viable fuel cell vehicle.
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The 5th generation stack still produces 93 kW output, but is significantly smaller than the 4th generation stack. This reduction in size means the stack is now roughly the same size as the EcoTec four-cylinder engine. More importantly for commercialization, GM has managed to reduce the cost per unit as well. The fuel cell stack now uses 30 grams of platinum, a reduction of more than 50% from the 4th generation. GM intends for the 6th generation fuel cell stack to only use 10 g of the precious metal. The new stack also shows improvements in durability, and the company expects the 5th generation to last 120,000 miles.
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All these improvements show that engineers at GM have yet to hit the wall when it comes to fuel cell technology research. And the fact that the company has set high goals for the 6th generation fuel cell stack shows their level of commitment to the fuel cell vehicle. Alan Taub, Executive Director of Research and Development, told Automotive News, “Technology leadership is one of the pillars of the company. That is going to remain, and it will probably be emphasized as part of the brand of GM.”
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Recently GM unveiled an electric vehicle, the Chevy Volt, and has stated they expect to have a commercially viable fuel cell vehicle by 2012, highlighting GM’s commitment to a fleet portfolio. With government regulations on fleet miles-per-gallon, and increased awareness of greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles, GM along with other car companies are going to need to pursue all pollution reduction technologies. The unveiling of the Volt goes to show that GM can carry a vehicle from science fiction, to concept, to production. I look forward to see what sort of fuel cell vehicle GM releases in 2012.
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August 18, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
Alan Adler says...
I work in fuel cell communications at GM. There is an important difference between have a commercially viable fuel cell stack by 2012 and having a fuel cell vehicle program. We expect to have the fuel cell stack but we have not announced a vehicle program in which it would be used. GM continues to believe hydrogen fuel cells are an important part of the nation’s mid- to long-range energy future if we are to have a chance of reducing CO2 emissions by 80 percent by 2050 vs. 1990 levels.
August 18, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
Philip Block says...
“All these improvements show that engineers at GM have yet to hit the wall when it comes to fuel cell technology research.” This profound statement is one of the great reasons Fuel Cell vehicles have a glorous future and rechargeable electric vehicles have slammed into the wall. The electro-chemistry for a super battery (a myth) does not exist and rechargeable EVs will never be more that they were in Edison’s day, with all the new technology. GM is on the right course with Fuel Cells and time will prove them right.
August 19, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
Philip Block says...
Mr.Adler, As a suggestion, would GM be willing to make their Fuel Cell available to consortiums that would be willing to produce a marketable FC vehicle? The rechargeable battery vehicle seems to have no end of people willing to invest in companies that claim that they have the ideal battery operated EV. Since GM appears to have done the majority of the engineering for a FC vehicle, would it not be advantageoous to lease or sell that engineering work? Just a thought!