Saturday, April 2, 2005

GM, U.S. Army introduce first fuel cell-powered military vehicle

By John McCormick / Autos Insider

Max Schulte / General Motors Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks to the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology at an event marking GM's delivery of the U.S. Army*s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered pickup. Clinton was instrumental in securing funds in the 2005 Department of Defense appropriations on behalf of GM*s experimental truck. Video  Interview with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Interview with Brig. Gen. Roger Nadeau. Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

HONEOYE FALLS, N.Y. -- The U.S. Army began its march into the hydrogen economy Friday with the introduction of the military's first ever fuel cell-powered vehicle, developed in partnership with General Motors Corp.

The truck, a modified Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab pickup, was rolled out at GM's fuel cell research center in upstate New York. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), the driving force behind the GM-Army partnership, was present along with U.S. Army Brigadier General Roger A. Nadeau.

Elizabeth Lowery, GM Vice President of Environment and Energy, stated that the military's first fuel cell vehicle would be used for non-tactical applications at Fort Belvoir, Va, for a 16-month evaluation period. "We are tremendously excited about this new commercial truck for military purposes," Lowery said, adding, "It's an important advance incorporating advanced fuel cell technology and introducing the military to the flexibility and security of fuel cell power."

The all-wheel drive vehicle is equipped with two 200-cell stacks delivering a maximum of 188kW to independent front and rear drive systems that give the 7,603-pound pickup a top speed of 93 mph. With a maximum torque rating of 317 lb. ft., the vehicle exhibits acceleration similar to a conventional V8-powered model.

Initially the vehicle will use three 350-bar (5000psi) hydrogen storage tanks, chosen to match the hydrogen fueling equipment at Fort Belvoir. These tanks will be upgraded to 700-bar (10,000psi) units during the evaluation period, which will give the vehicle a maximum range of 125 miles. GM says that the vehicle has not been specifically optimized for driving range.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Roger Nadeau, commander of the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, described this latest partnership between the military and the private sector as a "win-win" scenario.

"Together this technology is going to come in better and faster, and will have an incredible impact on us in our civilian lives," he said. "And I know what this is going to do our military forces. My excitement today in not about this truck, but what is under the hood of this truck," Nadeau proclaimed. "This is a quantum leap in technology. The fuel source is incredible for us. I grew up in the world of tanks and I know (about) fuel problems, and this is going to be much better for us.".

Pointing out the significance of the event, Senator Clinton commended the parties. "I want to thank Byron McCormick (GM Executive Director of Global Fuel Cell Activities) and the leadership at GM for really understanding the importance of this technology and being committed to it," she said. "I'm hoping that we will remember this day as not just the beginning of a relationship between GM and the Army, but as one of those turning points where people will look back and say, 'Finally, our country really is serious about moving toward energy independence, renewable sources and clean energy.'"

While the fuel cell pickup is for non-tactical use, it represents a potential sea change for the future of military mobility and battlefield power generation with numerous benefits. Less obvious advantages are the inherent noiseless operation of fuel cells and an almost non-existent heat signature. Both attributes would be a major advantage on the battlefield, where avoiding detection is paramount to the safety of troops and equipment.

If fully adopted by the military, fuel cell-powered vehicles would eliminate the need for auxiliary generators, plus the expense of support equipment and personnel needed to operate and maintain that equipment. With 188kW of generating capacity, the fuel cell-equipped Silverado could power nearly a dozen single family homes. From the military's perspective, fuel cell vehicles could be used to power tactical operations centers, maintenance centers and mobile hospitals - anywhere that an electrical infrastructure is inadequate or none existent.

"Technology in all of our services is changing very rapidly," Nadeau added. "And for all the technology that's there, it all requires power...and batteries are killing us. So my excitement on this is boundless.