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Automotive

GM, US Army extreme testing hydrogen fuel cell Colorado

By Aaron Turpen
November 22, 2015
GM, US Army extreme testing hydrogen fuel cell Colorado
A 2015 Chevrolet Colorado with offroad packaging similar to that which will be used in the US Army's testing
A 2015 Chevrolet Colorado with offroad packaging similar to that which will be used in the US Army's testing
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A 2015 Chevrolet Colorado with offroad packaging similar to that which will be used in the US Army's testing
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A 2015 Chevrolet Colorado with offroad packaging similar to that which will be used in the US Army's testing

General Motors and the US Army are joining forces to put hydrogen fuel cell technology to the test in extreme military environments. The project will see the Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) run a 12 month test on a Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck modified to run on a commercial hydrogen fuel cell and electric powertrain.

The US military has been interested in hydrogen fuel cells for some time, helping NASA to pioneer fuel cell use decades ago. Through TARDEC the ongoing research has focused on vehicle propulsion and power export. Because electric vehicles have high low-end torque output and hydrogen offers a fast-fueling, longer-distance power source that is also capable of being modular, TARDEC has a specific interest in an off-road capable truck that uses this power source.

Fuel cell vehicles are quiet and their power can be exported to equipment in the field. TARDEC says that this makes them a near-perfect option for scouts, special operators, and other specialists on the ground. Their only emission being water is another valuable resource in many environments.

GM and TARDEC have fuel cell development facilities just 20 miles apart in Michigan and have collaborated on fuel cell projects in the past. For this project, the modified Chevrolet Colorado HFC truck will undergo extreme testing in various simulated military uses over the next twelve months. The teams at TARDEC and GM expect to learn the limits of the current fuel cell technology being used.

Source: GM

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AutomotiveHydrogenFuel CellGeneral MotorsGMUS ArmyTARDEC
2 comments
Aaron Turpen
Aaron Turpen
Aaron is a Wyoming-based automotive journalist with interests in electronic and engineering technology. Outside of New Atlas, Aaron is a prolific writer, father of two, and would-be chicken farmer.

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2 comments
gizmowiz
It's a pity they are not designing and testing a full Colorado EV truck. Since trucks have lots of room under the body/frame for huge batteries it should give them 300+ mile range and with high ground clearance make swapping batteries very easy and quick (like in 45 seconds or less). More importantly if their shot at--they don't risk having their hydrogen storage tanks compromised and the trucks blown up!
John Banister
There's metal hydride storage tanks that keep hydrogen stored as densely as if it was compressed and safe from explosion as it takes voltage to induce the hydrogen to exit the metal. They're heavy, but so can batteries be heavy. To get a battery truck back on the road quickly, you'd want the batteries to be swappable. One possibility might be a swappable energy compartment that could have either a battery or a fuel cell power + hydrogen storage module.
For people at home, I think extra metal hydride storage is less expensive than an extra battery to be charged while your vehicle is at work. OTOH, separating hydrogen from water is less efficient than charging a battery.