Teaser sketch of the fuel-cell Colorado courtesy of Chevrolet.
General Motors and the U.S. Army will test out a hydrogen-powered Chevrolet Colorado pickup to see if it can withstand the extremes of daily military use, the automaker has announced.
GM and the Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center (TARDEC) will modify the mid-size pickup to run on a commercial hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system for a year of testing.
GM and TARDEC have fuel cell development and research facilities located 20 minutes apart in Pontiac and Warren, Mich. The two already collaborate on new fuel cell designs and materials, and TARDEC’s facility allow researchers to testi and integrate fuel cell systems in development for more than a decade.
Fuel cell propulsion offers high low-end torque capability that's useful in off-road environments. It also offers exportable electric power and quiet operation, which are good for commercial and military use.
This isn't the first time GM has produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In 2007, GM launched "Project Driveway," a 119-vehicle fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-equipped Chevrolet Equinox SUVs that were driven in daily use for more than 3 million miles by more than 5,000 consumers.
