10.6.2004
"Opel Fuel Cell Marathon" successfully reaches the finish in Portugal

HydroGen3 fuel cell vehicle passes its arduous test across Europe.

GM/Opel's fuel cell vehicle successfully reached its destination on schedule after completing its tough endurance test. 38 days after setting out from Hammerfest in Northern Norway, the HydroGen3 today arrived at Cabo da Roca near the Portuguese capital of Lisbon – the most westerly point of the European continent.

During this unique long-distance drive through 14 countries, the Opel Zafira-based prototype covered 9,696 kilometers. This meant that it not only nearly doubled the previous distance record for fuel cell cars, it also proved in impressive fashion the roadworthiness and stamina of this pioneering technology. During the marathon, the hydrogen car covered, in just five and a half weeks, a distance that corresponds to the average annual mileage of many car drivers in Europe.

That the engineers from GM and Opel have made enormous progress in their endeavors to bring fuel cell vehicles to production line maturity is documented by the fact that, despite the continuous stress to which the marathon vehicle was subjected, with high speeds, mountain passes and temperature differences of more than 35C. During the 20 stages of the marathon journey, there was not a single report of an unscheduled stop for repair.

For more information, please click here: Fuel Cell Marathon.