4.5.2004
Fuel cell generates energy for electric motor from hydrogen

The fuel cell, the heart of the "Opel Fuel Cell Marathon vehicle", is a compact, highly efficient power plant, which, together with the electric motor and ancillary units, fits under the front hood.

The 15 main subassemblies of the drive system have been combined into a single module, which means the individual elements can be preassembled like those of a conventional combustion engine transmission and then fitted into the bodywork from below and screwed into place.

Through this ingenious packaging, the HydroGen 3 vehicle – which is based on the Opel Zafira – can accommodate five passengers plus baggage. The fuel cell stack developed by GM specialists generates, from liquid hydrogen stored in the on-board tank, the electrical energy needed to drive the electric motor, which has an output of 60 kW/82 hp. The unit, which has a maximum torque of 215 Nm, takes the fuel cell vehicle almost silently from zero to 100 km/h in around 16 sec and gives it a top speed of 160 km/h.

To date, the 20 or so fuel cell prototypes have covered a total of 155,000 validation kilometers all over the world. In addition, they have completed 132 different testing schedules under all conceivable climatic conditions. This included, for example, winter testing at minus 15°C in the Swiss Alps, and a city traffic test on the streets of smog-bound Los Angeles. Apart from that, several HydroGen3 vehicles have been out and about in everyday service in the Japanese metropolis of Tokyo and the US capital, Washington.

GM wants to be able to sell cars with emissions-free technology from 2010
GM has so far invested over a billion dollars in their research and development. Although the aim is to sell vehicles with the emissions-free technology from 2010, Larry Burns, GM Vice President for Research, Development and Planning, says: "Only if we achieve a high vehicle volume will the advantages of fuel cell technology for the environment and its contribution to conserving limited fossil energy reserves actually come into effect."

When the fuel cell propulsion system is ready for the production line, it will have a service life of around 160,000 kilometers. The development team is also endeavoring to make the purchase cost comparable with that of conventional cars. The goal is to reach a cost of $50 per kilowatt of rated output – a figure that matches that of combustion engine traction systems.

To achieve these targets, a total of some 600 scientists and engineers at the fuel cell development center (founded by GM in 1997) are working on different aspects of the joint fuel cell program at five different sites: in Warren (Michigan), Torrance (California), Rochester (New York), Mainz-Kastel (Germany), and Tokyo (Japan).