June 16, 2009Print this page
· GM and Regione Piemonte exploring hydrogen fuel cell vehicle program
· Regione Piemonte supporting clean, renewable energy investment
General Motors and Regione Piemonte today unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle which could become part of the first real-world demonstration program in Italy.
GM’s fourth generation fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), HydroGen4, took center stage at the Inauguration of the new GM Engineering Center in Torino today and was driven on Italian roads for the first time.
The desire to launch a fuel cell vehicle demonstration program is outlined in a framework agreement between GM, Politecnico di Torino and Regione Piemonte to work together on world-leading sustainable mobility research and education projects.
Regione Piemonte and GM are working together to overcome regulatory hurdles, make hydrogen fuel available and develop a government framework that would enable a fleet of test cars to be put in operation in Italy next year.
Mike Arcamone, Vice President GM Powertrain Europe, said the HydroGen4 program was an important part of GM’s overall advanced technology and vehicle electrification strategy.
“With the support of Regione Piemonte, a small fleet of HydroGen4 vehicles could take to the road next year. A demonstration program would provide GM with important real-world feedback on fuel cell technology and the driving experience,” Mr Arcamone said.
“If everyone works together to support infrastructure development, investment and remove regulatory hurdles, we could see more HydroGen4 vehicles on the road and take our first steps as a community towards truly sustainable mobility.”
A priority of Regione Piemonte is economic development based on knowledge and excellence, especially in clean technologies and their application in different fields.
Andrea Bairati, Regional Minister for Innovation and Industry, said: “Piemonte supports policies focused on the clean technologies, renewable energies, investment on new fuels for the reduction of the carbon footprint and a sustainable mobility.
“The drive of such change is research and innovation. The actors are industry and researchers. A more and more relevant role is played by the public institutions.
“Today we inaugurate a center that represents all of those values: entrepreneurship, research, innovation and public demand for mobility to bring Torino to the same level of the other European capital cities. As in Berlin, we aim to realize the first fleet of hydrogen vehicles in Italy which are essentially real-world experimental laboratories for future low environmental impact travels,” he said.
“We are the capital city of the car, more and more we will become the capital city of low environmental impact mobility.”
HydroGen4 is the culmination of more than 10 years development work with hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Globally, GM has deployed more than 100 vehicles of this type as part of its Project Driveway testing program in the United States. Project Driveway participants have amassed more than 1.2 million kilometers (750,000 miles). Programs are also running in Japan, Korea, China and Germany.
Real-world feedback from these programs give GM engineers essential validation data and also provide valuable insight into the likely ownership and driving experience of future customers.
The HydroGen4 is powered by a fuel cell stack with 440 single cells which combine hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce electricity.
The only bi-product is water vapor – which avoids combustion and CO2 emissions. The instant torque characteristics of the HydroGen4 electric motor also give the vehicle excellent pick-up from low speed.
gmeurope
· Regione Piemonte supporting clean, renewable energy investment
General Motors and Regione Piemonte today unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle which could become part of the first real-world demonstration program in Italy.
GM’s fourth generation fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), HydroGen4, took center stage at the Inauguration of the new GM Engineering Center in Torino today and was driven on Italian roads for the first time.
The desire to launch a fuel cell vehicle demonstration program is outlined in a framework agreement between GM, Politecnico di Torino and Regione Piemonte to work together on world-leading sustainable mobility research and education projects.
Regione Piemonte and GM are working together to overcome regulatory hurdles, make hydrogen fuel available and develop a government framework that would enable a fleet of test cars to be put in operation in Italy next year.
Mike Arcamone, Vice President GM Powertrain Europe, said the HydroGen4 program was an important part of GM’s overall advanced technology and vehicle electrification strategy.
“With the support of Regione Piemonte, a small fleet of HydroGen4 vehicles could take to the road next year. A demonstration program would provide GM with important real-world feedback on fuel cell technology and the driving experience,” Mr Arcamone said.
“If everyone works together to support infrastructure development, investment and remove regulatory hurdles, we could see more HydroGen4 vehicles on the road and take our first steps as a community towards truly sustainable mobility.”
A priority of Regione Piemonte is economic development based on knowledge and excellence, especially in clean technologies and their application in different fields.
Andrea Bairati, Regional Minister for Innovation and Industry, said: “Piemonte supports policies focused on the clean technologies, renewable energies, investment on new fuels for the reduction of the carbon footprint and a sustainable mobility.
“The drive of such change is research and innovation. The actors are industry and researchers. A more and more relevant role is played by the public institutions.
“Today we inaugurate a center that represents all of those values: entrepreneurship, research, innovation and public demand for mobility to bring Torino to the same level of the other European capital cities. As in Berlin, we aim to realize the first fleet of hydrogen vehicles in Italy which are essentially real-world experimental laboratories for future low environmental impact travels,” he said.
“We are the capital city of the car, more and more we will become the capital city of low environmental impact mobility.”
HydroGen4 is the culmination of more than 10 years development work with hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Globally, GM has deployed more than 100 vehicles of this type as part of its Project Driveway testing program in the United States. Project Driveway participants have amassed more than 1.2 million kilometers (750,000 miles). Programs are also running in Japan, Korea, China and Germany.
Real-world feedback from these programs give GM engineers essential validation data and also provide valuable insight into the likely ownership and driving experience of future customers.
The HydroGen4 is powered by a fuel cell stack with 440 single cells which combine hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce electricity.
The only bi-product is water vapor – which avoids combustion and CO2 emissions. The instant torque characteristics of the HydroGen4 electric motor also give the vehicle excellent pick-up from low speed.
gmeurope
the car is nice im a certified classic muscle cars lover... hope that i can buy one soon!