GM SPLITS ITS BET BETWEEN FUEL CELLS AND BATTERIES

GM to Maintain Hydrogen Push as Plug-In Volt Readied for Sale
Alan Ohnsman (w/Jamie Butters, Ian Rowley and Chana Schoenberger), March 17, 2010 (Bloomberg News via BusinessWeek)

"General Motors Co. aims to commercialize autos fueled by hydrogen even as the largest U.S. carmaker prepares to begin selling the battery-powered Chevrolet Volt plug-in vehicle late this year.

"While U.S. policy has shifted to favor developing cars that use lithium-ion packs, rather than hydrogen fuel-cell models, both are needed to cut oil reliance and greenhouse gases, Charles Freese, GM’s executive director of global powertrain engineering, said…[discussing] GM’s new fuel-cell power system that’s smaller, lighter and cheaper than the one used in its hydrogen-powered Equinox wagon…GM’s ability to fund costly hydrogen research came into question…[but] the Detroit-based company has reduced expenses to help pay back billions of dollars in federal bailout funds…"

GM says it will put this fuel cell in an upcoming version of its battery-powered Volt. Carmakers have been promising "upcoming " versions of fuel cell vehicles for more than a decade. (click to enlarge)

"…The Volt plug-in can travel 40 miles (64 kilometers) solely on lithium-ion battery power…After the batteries run down, an onboard gasoline engine recharges the cells, extending the car’s driving range. Initially, the Volt will be marketed to drivers in California, which requires large automakers to offer some vehicles that emit little or no tailpipe pollution…GM has said the Volt will cost about $40,000, before a federal tax credit for electric vehicles.

"…[E]ventually a fuel cell stack could replace the [Volt’s] gasoline engine…Fuel cells, made up of layers of plastic film coated with platinum sandwiched between metal plates, make electricity in a chemical process combining hydrogen and oxygen. Water vapor is the only exhaust."

Don't wait. Buy a Volt. (click to enlarge)

"While hydrogen cars offer greater range and faster fueling than battery models, high production costs and a lack of fuel stations has slowed their introduction beyond test fleets. Honda Motor Co. began leasing its FCX Clarity fuel cell sedan to a small number of Los Angeles drivers in 2008…

"Freese said GM is “on a path” to sell retail versions of its hydrogen vehicles by 2015, without confirming any specific plans. Honda, Toyota Motor Corp., Daimler AG and Hyundai Motor Co. have all said they will have fuel cell vehicles ready for retail customers by around 2015…The U.S. should adopt a more uniform strategy on advanced technology options as Germany and Japan have done, Freese said. Both countries announced plans to open 1,000 hydrogen fuel stations…"