Sunday, January 9, 2005

Charles V. Tines / The Detroit News GM calls its hydrogen-powered concept vehicle the Sequel because it is the 'sequel to the first 100 years of the automobile.'

GM launches latest stage of its hydrogen 'moonshot'

Sequel concept is a five-seat SUV with a 300-mile range

By John McCormick / Autos Insider

Related reports Interview with Larry Burns from hydrogenforecast.com. Hybrids reach show's front line Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

DETROIT - Calling it "our industry moonshot," General Motors Corp. rolled out its latest fuel cell vehicle, a five-seat SUV boasting a 300-mile range and competitive performance.

Sequel

Dubbed Sequel, the vehicle is so named because it is the "sequel to the first 100 years of the automobile," said Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and CEO.

Sequel builds on the success of the 2002 Autonomy and Hy-wire concepts, using an 11-inch thick 'skateboard' chassis that integrates the fuel stack, lithium ion battery, hydrogen tanks, electronics, wheel motors and suspension components.

"Three years ago, our chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner, challenged us to completely rethink the automobile," said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development and planning.

"The Autonomy and Hy-wire concepts were the outgrowth of that challenge - a revolution in how vehicles would be designed, built and used in the future. But, they were concepts. Today, with Sequel, the vision is real - not yet affordable, but doable."

"GM's goal," Burns explained, "is to design and validate a fuel cell propulsion system by 2010 that is competitive with current internal combustion systems on durability and performance, and that ultimately can be built at scale affordably.

"We've achieved remarkable gains in range and acceleration by using our fuel cell system technology that exists today. That's a real breakthrough. For anyone tracking the viability of fuel cell vehicles, this is encouraging news."

Sequel has the footprint of a Cadillac SRX - measuring 196.6 inches in length, 66.8 inches in height and riding on a 119.7-inch wheelbase. It has a a range of 300 miles and acceleration to 30 mph in three seconds and to 60 mph in nine seconds, essentially comparable performance to today's contemporary sized vehicles.

Current-generation fuel cell vehicles have a range of between 170 and 250 miles and cover 0-60 mph in between 12-16 seconds, depending upon whether a battery is used.

Compared to the fuel stack in GM's HydroGen 3 vehicle, the Sequel's 73-kilowatt stack develops 25 percent more power. The stack and power module were designed and developed by GM engineers in Honeoye Falls, NY. The power module is significantly simpler and more efficient than that used on HydroGen 3.

"Sequel is the first fuel cell vehicle in the industry that delivers the range and performance people expect from their current vehicles, bringing us that much closer to commercialization," said Byron McCormick, executive director of GM's Fuel Cell Activities.

In terms of the drive system the two rear wheel hub motors, including two inverters, as well as the power inverter module for the front electric motor, were developed by GM's Advanced Technology Center in Torrance, CA. A high-voltage, lithium ion battery system provides extra power to the three electric motors during acceleration. It also stores power regenerated during braking to help extend the vehicle's overall mileage range.

Sequel's 300-mile range is made possible by advances in high-pressure storage that enable the vehicle to carry 8 kilograms of hydrogen, more than double that of HydroGen3. Developed in conjunction with Quantum Technologies of Irvine, Calif., three lightweight, carbon composite tanks store hydrogen at 10,000 psi , compared to 5,000 psi in Hy-wire, Sequel's predecessor.

"Our skateboard chassis with the three-tank design is an excellent approach to providing a vehicle with a 300-mile vehicle range, without compromising overall interior and trunk space for the customer," said Chris Borroni-Bird, director of GM's Design and Technology Fusion Group and program director for Sequel.

"Hydrogen storage technology will continue to evolve and, as improvements are made, we will translate this into greater range and smaller packaging designs."

In terms of design, the Sequel is forward looking, said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of design "But it doesn't allow the underlying technology to overpower the driving experience."

"We designed a realistic vehicle," added Robert Boniface, GM director of advanced design.

"The importance of the Sequel is that it's a realistic, drivable and credible vehicle, so its design had to reflect that. It doesn't look like an outlandish, unreal dream machine."