GM's Hydrogen Sequel Concept Now Drivable

The news yesterday wasn’t that GM built a drivable hydrogen car. In fact, I’ve driven one of GM’s hydrogen vehicles that are used spartanly in government fleets. No, the news is that the slick Sequel hydrogen concept that was first shown at the 2005 Detroit auto show is now fully functioning.

What’s different about the Sequel compared to current hydrogen cars is the unique placement of all the parts. Everything that powers the car is built right into the frame. That means there’s no engine up front, and the skateboard-like underbody could theoretically fit under a variety of models.

When the concept was unveiled, GM said the Sequel would perform far better than current hydrogen cars, with acceleration equivalent to traditionally powered vehicles.

As for when to expect any of this technology to hit the market, don’t hold your breath. While hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, refining it is still costly, and there is no infrastructure for transporting it to service stations. Currently only a few hydrogen fueling stations exist in the U.S.

[GM to Show Off Drivable Version of Fuel Cell Car, Detroit Free Press]