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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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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:10,150 Points:591,800 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 21, 2010 7:49:22 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse ajrn: that may be the biggest challenge indeed.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:10,150 Points:591,800 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 21, 2010 7:47:27 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse as many of us expected...
ajrn Champion Author Toledo Posts:9,166 Points:1,982,990 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:49:46 AM Ignore ajrn Report Abuse ...but will they survive economic crashes?
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,669 Points:596,000 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:39:07 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse Excerpt: "The vehicle was being driven in traffic at low speed when it was struck from behind by a full-size pickup which forced the fuel-cell vehicle forward into another pickup. No hydrogen was released and no one was injured." But what happens when it hits a tree at 60 or spins out and does a triple rollover? Let's hope there will still be no big explosion.
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:6,415 Points:1,343,440 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:34:47 PM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse So we switch to hydrogen, and have to create an entire new fueling system. What is wrong with that picture. Conservation keeps your money in your pocket.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,669 Points:596,000 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:32:04 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse "U get that many every day in the smallest town." Not in every small town. We can go weeks between car crashes in Monterey and months or even years between significant ones.
briank299 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:11,163 Points:2,060,700 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:30:42 PM Ignore briank299 Report Abuse RedRam2005 wrote: "I support research and development of hydrogen vehicles, but will not buy a vehicle from Government Motors at any cost." =============================================================== Why not? You're a stockholder! :-)
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,587 Points:489,565 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:27:37 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse that's good to know but only 5 vehicles involved in crashes is nothing. U get that many every day in the smallest town.
netman044 Champion Author Texas Posts:3,775 Points:634,160 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:23:05 PM Ignore netman044 Report Abuse Hydrogen is more flammable than natural gas but not a great deal more. There have been wrecks involving CNG fueled vehicles that didn't cause explosions. Why shouldn't hydrogen be the same?
RedRam2005 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:3,380 Points:572,915 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:15:46 PM Ignore RedRam2005 Report Abuse I support research and development of hydrogen vehicles, but will not buy a vehicle from Government Motors at any cost.
AC-302 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:14,487 Points:1,907,010 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:13:48 PM Ignore AC-302 Report Abuse Hydrogen is fine. But how are they going to economically produce enough hydrogen to fuel even 10% of the cars in the country? Electrolysis is notoriously inefficient. You'd be better to use the oil to power the vehicle. BTU wise, it would be more efficient.
Lukus Champion Author Halifax Posts:3,304 Points:671,915 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:08:47 PM Ignore Lukus Report Abuse Good to hear, but where they going to get all the filling stations or are they flex fuel vehicles.
sillywagon Champion Author New York Posts:5,145 Points:514,395 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 8:08:44 PM Ignore sillywagon Report Abuse Looks like my mother was driving this Hydrogen fuelled Chevy Equinox. I didn't know she drove a Chevy? I thought she liked driving Chrysler's into accidents?
RobRD Champion Author Alberta Posts:3,828 Points:896,020 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:51:16 PM Ignore RobRD Report Abuse Glad to hear that despite accidents there was no major explosions.
Jo120 Champion Author Arizona Posts:3,339 Points:1,289,100 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:47:06 PM Ignore Jo120 Report Abuse If you're willing to drive one of those little tiny Smart Cars, then there's no reason to worry about hydrogen cars. (but good luck refueling)!!
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,305 Points:640,575 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:44:37 PM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse Truth be known the real pooblem with hydrogen is that it is almost impossible to ship and store. It is this containment costs that keeps these cars off the road. Also,most accidents will happen while refueling.
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,305 Points:640,575 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:40:03 PM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse I like the idea of hydrogen powered cars. In this case however 5 does not constitute proof of safety. It's not even a good start.
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,621 Points:641,765 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:39:43 PM Ignore danreino Report Abuse I think some people here are missing the point !
Zeke33 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:2,734 Points:940,710 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:37:39 PM Ignore Zeke33 Report Abuse I wonder if the oil industry has employees out playing bumper car with these fuel cell vehicle in hopes that something bad will happen to stifle the development of these vehicles?
OGW Champion Author London Posts:1,200 Points:635,490 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:30:28 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse What is GM's problem? Their executives screw the company and the taxpayer and they can't find professional drivers to test their vehicles who can't stay out of accidents. Maybe they need some good HR company that can hire employees for them that know what they are doing.
FordF2502001 Champion Author Mississippi Posts:2,867 Points:627,640 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:29:55 PM Ignore FordF2502001 Report Abuse Give some to Toyota drivers!
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,498 Points:1,607,395 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:29:28 PM Ignore jb107 Report Abuse Hydrogen looks like a promising way to go.
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:4,415 Points:2,076,520 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:28:04 PM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse Leave it to GM to put some positive spin on their prototypes. You think they're going to bad-mouth their commission?
Kamakani Champion Author Hawaii Posts:1,790 Points:542,625 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:21:10 PM Ignore Kamakani Report Abuse Hydrogen explosion or gas explosion....what's the difference? Both will kill you.
jay4 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:5,707 Points:1,310,000 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:18:33 PM Ignore jay4 Report Abuse This shows great promise: maybe even hydrogen synthesizers i the home?
signwiz All-Star Author Indiana Posts:990 Points:902,755 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:18:19 PM Ignore signwiz Report Abuse Heindenburg?
tc316 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,852 Points:747,910 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:57:47 PM Ignore tc316 Report Abuse We well see
AKmailman All-Star Author Alaska Posts:517 Points:551,665 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:55:12 PM Ignore AKmailman Report Abuse Wanted: More crash test dummies, preferably with a good driving record
SpaceAce5 Veteran Author South Dakota Posts:300 Points:66,245 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:48:48 PM Ignore SpaceAce5 Report Abuse good, lets get something in production!
djgunrunner Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,618 Points:1,345,215 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:45:11 PM Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse This is the way of the future. Where is Chrysler and Ford? Chrysler is probably under a bed wait for someone to tell them its okay to come out and be in last place, again.
bell05 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:4,140 Points:864,630 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:38:57 PM Ignore bell05 Report Abuse Copied from this article: The vehicle was extensively damaged on both front and rear ends and later declared a total loss. A vehicle data analysis indicates that the vehicle and controls operated as designed, Adler says. The vehicle was on a short-term loan to a military consultant. Did you look at this article? This car was totaled??? What?? Looks very repairable to me. No wonder inusrance in so high????
96sc1 Champion Author El Paso Posts:5,389 Points:696,980 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:37:48 PM Ignore 96sc1 Report Abuse Why post "Why are all other countries on the cutting edge, and we the US left in the dust?" when the article is about a successful G.M. vehicle? This is just blatant anti-Americanism.
hangupanddrive Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,816 Points:1,154,530 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:26:52 PM Ignore hangupanddrive Report Abuse Figured they would. Probably safer than our current petro fueled cars!
otto_drommo All-Star Author Wichita Posts:845 Points:212,285 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:26:25 PM Ignore otto_drommo Report Abuse No wonder our insurance rates are high
jppezz Champion Author New Mexico Posts:3,433 Points:675,580 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:24:26 PM Ignore jppezz Report Abuse Hydrogen fuel cell IS THE vehicle of the future.
PissedCanuck Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,684 Points:788,675 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:13:41 PM Ignore PissedCanuck Report Abuse These guys who are involved in these accidents must really not know how to drive.
stevan Champion Author Tennessee Posts:11,082 Points:1,802,310 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:13:39 PM Ignore stevan Report Abuse Since the early 1970s, there have been several thousand CNG vehicles on the highways. I would worry more about those in an accident crash vs. a full-cell vehicle any day.
TXGasPriceSpy Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:2,485 Points:464,920 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:12:06 PM Ignore TXGasPriceSpy Report Abuse I'm glad to see GM building them. Only problem is, I don't buy GM vehicles.
Hangnail309 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:1,270 Points:720,760 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 6:09:46 PM Ignore Hangnail309 Report Abuse We will see ...
BBHybrid Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:2,593 Points:522,205 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:59:10 PM Ignore BBHybrid Report Abuse Glad somebody is finally building them
RobertSpratt All-Star Author Virginia Beach Posts:792 Points:234,245 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:58:20 PM Ignore RobertSpratt Report Abuse We will see
rippertoo All-Star Author Tacoma Posts:603 Points:129,260 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:53:36 PM Ignore rippertoo Report Abuse Looks like our President and Congress have GM working a little better.
Rt118E Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,559 Points:358,815 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:52:46 PM Ignore Rt118E Report Abuse Looks to me like it can take a crash pretty well.
NavyStore Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,526 Points:1,148,785 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:49:46 PM Ignore NavyStore Report Abuse Nice to see that they can engineer something like this after years of pretty much already doing it.
revON Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,219 Points:643,900 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:48:47 PM Ignore revON Report Abuse go G.M. go.
thriftymeCA Sophomore Author Oakland Posts:127 Points:31,075 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:46:11 PM Ignore thriftymeCA Report Abuse Beachbum, gasoline is highly explosive but you drive a vehicle which uses it. It isn't any less dangerous.
capt455 All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:896 Points:418,220 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:45:36 PM Ignore capt455 Report Abuse I can't imagine anything much more dangerous than gasoline. If it is spilled during an accident, the vapors will pool around the lowest point, whereas hydrogen would dissipate upwardly, being much lighter than air. The only part that would make me uneasy is the high pressure that the hydrogen is stored at.
mplato Champion Author Columbia Posts:4,097 Points:987,805 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 5:45:12 PM Ignore mplato Report Abuse something good from government motors.....probably not.
beachbumCA Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,869 Points:729,870 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:4,200 Points:1,256,025 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?