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Courtesy of GM
GM-TARDEC Truck
General Motors and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) will revealed a Chevrolet Colorado-based fuel cell electric vehicle at the fall meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Washington, D.C. The collaboration enables TARDEC to access consumer-driven automotive technology for use in military applications while providing GM with feedback on non-standard fuel cell-technology applications.
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Courtesy of GM
The Second Generation Fuel Cell System
The second generation fuel cell system from General Motors used in the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle demonstration fleet would likely work as a starting template for the Colorado.
Story by Budd Stanley, photos courtesy of GM
The world is slowly opening up to alternative ways to power the automobile, but very few of these experimenting technologies make use of 4WD vehicles. A couple of us here at 4WDrive Magazine think this is a massive opportunity for both off-road enthusiast and 4WD makers alike. If there is one trait that makes a great off-roader, it is low-end torque that comes instantaneously with a dead straight power delivery line. Internal combustion engines try to meet these standard with varying results, however electric motors meet these needs precisely, with the added bonus of silent running… depending on your love of a screaming V-8 in the woods.
However, we see a very large step in the right directions as General Motors and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) have announced that they will reveal a Chevrolet Colorado-based fuel cell electric vehicle in October at the fall meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Washington, D.C. Seeing as the modern civilian off-road vehicle is a direct descendant from the military need for all-terrain mobility, the combination of GM, the military and fuel cell-powered 4WD’s could be seen as a turning point in the way we power our off-road 4WD’s.
Consistent with the Department of Defense’s desire to leverage commercial innovation in its next-generation technologies, the Army will use the vehicle to demonstrate the capabilities fuel cell electric propulsion and power generation systems can bring to the military, including quieter mobility, exportable power generation, low-end torque and water generation. The Army intends to conduct user assessments and demonstrations in 2017.
"Hydrogen fuel cells as a power source have the potential to bring to the force incredibly valuable capabilities,” said TARDEC Director Paul Rogers. “We expect the vehicle to be quiet in operation and ready to provide electricity generation for needs away from the vehicle. With fuel cell technology advancing, it’s an ideal time to investigate its viability in extreme military-use conditions.
“Fuel cell propulsion has low-end torque capability that is useful in an off-road environment,” Rogers said. “It also offers additional characteristics attractive to both commercial and military off-road use.”
Neither GM nor TARDEC released vehicle specifics, but Rogers said the Army is focusing on the technology and its capabilities, regardless of the platform.
“This project is another example of how fuel cell propulsion can play a role in non-traditional applications,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM’s Global Fuel Cell Activities. “We need to continue pursuing these opportunities along with our plans for production of a commercial fuel cell system in the 2020 time frame.”