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GM's hydrogen fuel-cell fleet holds up in crashes

USA Today -- One of the more impressive aspects of General Motors' Project Driveway, which put 120 Chevrolet Equinox fuel-cell vehicles on the streets, is that it was pretty clear from the start that some might get in accidents. With that many vehicles it was bound to happen. But how would a hydrogen vehicle hold up?

This fuel cell vehicle took a good smack in front. CAPTIONBy GMSo far, so good. Five GM fuel-cell vehicles have been involved in accidents over the years, and none has resulted in any sort of catastrophic hydrogen explosion, says Charlie Freese, who is charge of GM's fuel-cell program...

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Submitted Mar 19, 2010 By: GM

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beachbumCA Champion Author Riverside Posts:4,069 Points:767,500 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:37:55 PM Ignore beachbumCA Report Abuse I do not want to be on the same street with a hydrogen car.
LeeFree Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:4,410 Points:1,297,575 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:34:57 PM Ignore LeeFree Report Abuse Five out of 120 already in accidents? Who's driving these things, Mr Magoo?
rossp Champion Author San Jose Posts:8,199 Points:1,364,760 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:34:22 PM Ignore rossp Report Abuse You were expecting a Hydrogen Bomb?
pliskin Champion Author Syracuse Posts:3,209 Points:981,010 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:32:03 PM Ignore pliskin Report Abuse I'd like to see this technology get moving and into more than test vehicles. Ford has also been working with this technology. The network for filling stations would be a major drawback at the onset. With virtually no emissions and relatively low explosion risks this could be the way of the future.
heysailor Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:4,675 Points:1,360,795 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:29:59 PM Ignore heysailor Report Abuse Glad somebody is finally building them.
mvosevich Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,331 Points:876,430 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:24:47 PM Ignore mvosevich Report Abuse Very promising technology.
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:1,239 Points:847,680 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:22:56 PM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse I don't mind going out like a flaming torch as long as I'm saving on gas!
SSchmidty Champion Author Illinois Posts:4,346 Points:822,270 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:22:32 PM Ignore SSchmidty Report Abuse Good for you ... now make it cost efficient for the market
DellMan Champion Author Omaha Posts:1,917 Points:442,925 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:20:12 PM Ignore DellMan Report Abuse The problems are when you get rear ended more than a front end crash. Remember the old Ford Pinto's were good in front end crashes and blew up when hit from behind, and they used regular gas not volatile Hydrogen.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:18,349 Points:1,371,035 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:20:00 PM Ignore tomok Report Abuse No explosion - the tanks are made of carbon fiber which will ‘leak out’ and not explode when in a crash. Now have to make the hydrogen, which is very expensive, and get it to a filling station to charge the tanks on the vehicle.
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:1,239 Points:847,680 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:19:49 PM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse Why are all other countries on the cutting edge, and we the US left in the dust?
96sc1 Champion Author El Paso Posts:5,587 Points:733,365 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:11:49 PM Ignore 96sc1 Report Abuse Apparently light damage resulted in a total loss? Did the air bags even go off?
paulydel Champion Author Delaware Posts:4,239 Points:467,805 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:10:23 PM Ignore paulydel Report Abuse Its a good start but it has to be cheaper than gas.
epf Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,598 Points:927,780 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:10:13 PM Ignore epf Report Abuse I'm very encouraged
VetteFan Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,881 Points:1,068,395 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:08:22 PM Ignore VetteFan Report Abuse That is good to hear. Which company is trying out the equivalent of gas stations? None, yet? That's not good.
sivart Champion Author Arkansas Posts:11,941 Points:2,106,980 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:08:02 PM Ignore sivart Report Abuse bad news, price at pump up...good news, price at pump up!
snofog All-Star Author Seattle Posts:623 Points:92,655 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:07:41 PM Ignore snofog Report Abuse Well
Rednix Champion Author Miami Posts:1,653 Points:344,290 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:04:19 PM Ignore Rednix Report Abuse That's good to hear.
swlincdrv Veteran Author Lincoln Posts:375 Points:219,115 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:02:51 PM Ignore swlincdrv Report Abuse It'a a start.
paulydel Champion Author Delaware Posts:4,239 Points:467,805 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:00:46 PM Ignore paulydel Report Abuse Its a good start but it has to be cheaper than gas.
texasvet Champion Author Texas Posts:1,402 Points:160,930 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:59:47 PM Ignore texasvet Report Abuse More pro-alternatives propaganda from GM.
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,145 Points:535,510 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:59:40 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse They should call it the Hindenberg!
AtascaderoHound All-Star Author California Posts:557 Points:588,690 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:58:24 PM Ignore AtascaderoHound Report Abuse It's not ready fro prime time today, but anything that could possibly eliminate the need for dirty expensive polluting oil should be thoroughly researched as an option down the road.
snewwee Champion Author Detroit Posts:5,004 Points:1,017,030 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:52:47 PM Ignore snewwee Report Abuse But just wait until some idiot trys to fill it tanks!
dhnbBUG Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,621 Points:732,805 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:52:45 PM Ignore dhnbBUG Report Abuse I agree with miser709. We need something people can afford.
miser709 Sophomore Author Grand Rapids Posts:174 Points:182,095 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:37:04 PM Ignore miser709 Report Abuse It will never make it to the market because it is too costly.
aarrrt Champion Author San Diego Posts:3,020 Points:720,175 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:32:34 PM Ignore aarrrt Report Abuse Not many case studies to formulate a safety opinion. How about high speed crashes? Still I hope hydrogen can become a safe choice.
mark1962 Champion Author Albany Posts:1,536 Points:333,620 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:30:56 PM Ignore mark1962 Report Abuse Great news!
Italianman All-Star Author Twin Cities Posts:961 Points:323,350 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:26:00 PM Ignore Italianman Report Abuse Hydrogen is the answer. Just ask George W.
I10Express Champion Author San Antonio Posts:3,725 Points:666,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:25:18 PM Ignore I10Express Report Abuse It's good to know they don't spill hydrogen on everything.. :)
CatMan623 Champion Author Houston Posts:8,624 Points:1,385,725 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:21:51 PM Ignore CatMan623 Report Abuse Hydrogen is NOT the answer.
Ken2OD Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:4,113 Points:1,002,435 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:15:48 PM Ignore Ken2OD Report Abuse They tested the Titanic too and look where it ended up.
Doubleeez Champion Author Connecticut Posts:2,762 Points:549,415 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:07:00 PM Ignore Doubleeez Report Abuse Speaks well for the hydrogen fuel cell.
greywolves Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:4,116 Points:1,529,945 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:57:39 PM Ignore greywolves Report Abuse you want to live in the past, bud.
Rick01 Champion Author Utah Posts:4,046 Points:1,415,815 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:57:06 PM Ignore Rick01 Report Abuse Let's see them in a real world test.
jwduke1 Champion Author Iowa Posts:11,335 Points:2,222,585 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:51:48 PM Ignore jwduke1 Report Abuse Sounds good!
djtdi Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,236 Points:296,755 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:46:20 PM Ignore djtdi Report Abuse GM talks about the Hydrogen tanks holding up in crashes. It is the fuel cell that should also be of concern. The fuel cells are made with brittle material which has to be maintained at about 800 degree Celsius in order for it to convert Hydrogen to electricity. The article does not mention the state of the fuel cell,whether it survived the impact and if it did what condition it was in if it sustained any damage.
Saturn93 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,250 Points:1,016,715 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:45:12 PM Ignore Saturn93 Report Abuse ModelWarships -- more misinformation: a hydrogen explosion is nothing like a hydrogen bomb. Think of the Hindenburg. Still the infrastructure problems with hydrogen (storage, shipping, delivery, etc.) are huge and expensive. In addition since H2 does not exist in an elemental form (in any significant quantity) it takes as much (or more) energy to produce it than it yields when burned. Therefore it only provides a way of converting some other energy source to a more "portable" form with many inefficiencies along the way. Nice for space vehicles, way to expensive and difficult for earth bound vehicles.
pnd1 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:1,885 Points:375,730 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:42:30 PM Ignore pnd1 Report Abuse It's a start.
Bud122CA Champion Author California Posts:2,985 Points:681,430 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:39:05 PM Ignore Bud122CA Report Abuse I don't want one!!
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,662 Points:253,605 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:34:59 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse I don't fully understand the technology, but it seems a great way to develop future energy sources. Keep up the R&D GM.
ModelWarships Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,911 Points:459,965 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:34:42 PM Ignore ModelWarships Report Abuse hold up or goes up like a hydrogen bomb.
TheSnowstorm Champion Author Montreal Posts:4,473 Points:1,006,830 Joined:June 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:31:29 PM Ignore TheSnowstorm Report Abuse Hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen powered vehicles will become the way of the futute. Like anything else, change takes time and people will have to adapt.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:4,021 Points:672,285 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:30:08 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Totally wrong srchr! How can you be from such a great center of high tech and remain so in the dark? All the corn belt states should task their universities with developing better processes for hydrogen generation to atone for their ethanol sins. The one thing GM has done right over this past decade is the design and development of the infrastructure for fuel cells powered by hydrogen. This technology is our future for ground transportation and more. [Edited by: NHLiveFree at 3/19/2010 6:30:33 PM EST]
Mr.Dirt Champion Author Albany Posts:5,003 Points:1,788,090 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:17:20 PM Ignore Mr.Dirt Report Abuse lets hope it might work and get away from oil
skynet Champion Author California Posts:2,348 Points:445,895 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:17:18 PM Ignore skynet Report Abuse Hydrogen, if loose, goes up, no problem of oil spill. Just need to make sure that that car itself is somewhat flame retardant.
zimowski Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,815 Points:626,805 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:14:14 PM Ignore zimowski Report Abuse Nice to know that we the taxpayers are not funding explosions on our highways.
Romey08 Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,954 Points:573,875 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:09:05 PM Ignore Romey08 Report Abuse good to know
garman87 Champion Author Austin Posts:1,300 Points:1,514,750 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:08:06 PM Ignore garman87 Report Abuse Just a minor fender bender.
srchr Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,508 Points:696,520 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:07:05 PM Ignore srchr Report Abuse only a niche mkt can afford any green technology
swrestler Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,215 Points:597,960 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:05:28 PM Ignore swrestler Report Abuse Buy AMERICAN.....
WIPACKERFAN Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,957 Points:881,740 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 3:05:05 PM Ignore WIPACKERFAN Report Abuse Good for them. Give me my gasoline.