Sequel Sequel

[Flybrian]

GM Sequel, Part II

GM to build the Sequel, its hydrogen fuel-cell car, claiming it has increased its range to 300 miles and 0 to 60 mph in under 10 seconds

Way back at the start of 2005, the world's largest automotive manufacturer, General Motors, showed the Sequel advanced hydrogen fuel-cell concept vehicle at the 2005 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), billing it as the culmination of US$1 billion of intensive research it had conducted into fuel cell technology. Like most show cars, the Sequel was not a working model, but now General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner has gone on record as saying "the most technologically advanced car GM has ever built" has actually been built, has an operating range of 300 miles, and will be made available to journalists in the near future. The Sequel is a truly remarkable vehicle, having superseded the AUTOnomy and Hy-wire as GM's primary showcase of future fuel cell vehicles. See the extensive technical diagrams and photographic library we have assembled here, and read on for all the available detail.

In announcing the Sequel, GM claims to have increased the range and halved acceleration times in comparison with its existing AUTOnomy and Hy-wire fuel-cell vehicles. Like these predecessors, the Sequel shares the 11 inch high skateboard chassis containing the hydrogen tanks, fuel cells, drive by-wire electrics , batteries ad infinitum .

The space gained through the use of by-wire technology for the steering and brake control systems is used to good effect by the three high-pressure tanks. The mid-chassis location of these tanks affords good protection and benefits the vehicle's center of gravity. In addition, a large number of detailed technical modifications were made, so that the propulsion system represents state-of-the-art fuel cell technology.

Thanks to the 25 percent power increase from GM's new-generation fuel-cell stack, the Sequel can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in under 10 seconds – while emitting only steam. The Sequel now has an operating range of 300 miles (480 kilometers), comparable to that of conventional vehicles with combustion engines.

Byron McCormick, Executive Director of Fuel Cell Activities at GM says, "The Sequel is the car industry's first fuel cell vehicle to offer an operating range and performance in line with people's expectations. That takes us a big step closer to the commercial production of fuel cell vehicles."

The fuel cell propulsion module consists of the fuel-cell stack, hydrogen and air processing subsystem, cooling system, and the high-voltage distribution system. This unit delivers 73 kW to the electric traction motors plus power for heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, by-wire electronics and the battery.

In a recent speech, Rick Wagoner began discussing GM "Beyond the Sequel." "We continue to make excellent progress in all aspects of our extensive fuel-cell research and technology-development program, and we look forward to sharing more news about it in the near future. Stay tuned."

[pow]

Cool. One of our neighbors has a Honda FCX, and it's not exactly good-looking.

[CSpec]

Cool. One of our neighbors has a Honda FCX, and it's not exactly good-looking.

187294[/snapback]

Where do they fill it up?

[PurdueGuy]

This is really cool news - part of me had feared that GM had mostly given up on hydrogen in order to regroup on hybrids. I can understand not being able to put a huge focus on fuel cells, but they need to keep pushing it, even if largely in secret in order to suprise people later.

[91z4me]

Where do they fill it up?

187315[/snapback]

I think Honda puts a home H2 generatior with the cars that you either rent/buy. It just uses your electricity to split water into H2 and O2.

[chevynj]

I think Honda puts a home H2 generatior with the cars that you either rent/buy.  It just uses your electricity to split water into H2 and O2.

187352[/snapback]

yep....car emits no noxious fumes, but the power plant down the road does....

Unless they happen to have a nuke plant, then its all good. Need some more nuclear power to supply clean(er) electricity to places that can split h2o for these things. Gotta admit though....its still kinda cool to have a hydrogen car.

[91z4me]

I think we need to use more solar and wind power generating stations. Heck Ernestor could supply enough power for a few months within a few days. Put that together with systems to split the water and I think we have a win/win situation.

[Sixty8panther]

Those FCXes would look outdated in a 1989 Road & Track.