GM HydroGen3 Demonstration Program
Raj Choudhury
General Motors Corporation
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
May 23, 2006
www.gmability.com
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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Basics
Fuel cells convert hydrogen into
electricity through an “electrochemical
process”
Very Efficient!
2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O,
+ Electricity
+ Heat
No Exhaust!
Very Quiet!
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Fuel Cell Stack
Typically, stack
composed
of 100s of cells
Bipolar plate
(cathode)
Diffusion medium
Membrane electrode ass’y
Diffusion medium
Bipolar plate (anode)
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Fuel Cell Power Plant vs. the “Internal Combustion Engine”
Source: Scientific American
Hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine:
TWICE the efficiency with ZERO emissions
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HydroGen3 Fuel Cell Car
Fuel cell power module
Hydrogen storage
Traction system
Shell Hydrogen Station in Washington DC
• Five Year GM–US DOE $88 Million Fuel Cell Vehicle and Infrastructure
Demonstration Program
The Benning Road Station
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Shell Hydrogen Station in Washington DC
President Bush refuels
HydroGen3 at Shell
Hydrogen station in
Washington, DC (May
25, 2005)
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GM – Government Demo Programs
US Mail delivery in Washington, DC area (2004-06)
497,122 pieces of US Mail delivered in the first 19 months of the Program
EPA Demo Program (2005-06)
• GM also has programs with the US Military, and has just concluded one with DC DOT
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Carbon-based
Where do we get the hydrogen?
Oil
R
Natural
R
Gas
Coal
CH4 + H20  CO + 3H2
CO + H2O  CO2 + H2
Reforming
R
Nuclear E
Hydrogen
Renewable
Biomass R
Hydro
E
Electrolysis
Wind
E
2H2O  2H2 + O2
Solar
E
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Hydrogen can help with…..
Petroleum Dependence
Trade Balance
Hydrogen
Local Air Quality
Global Climate Change
(CO2)
PM, HC, CO
NOx, SOx
CO2, N2O,
CH4
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Commercialization Challenges
(it does no good if we can’t sell in high volumes…)
 Cost (of the fuel cell system)
 Hydrogen storage (since that
determines driving range)
 “Infrastructure” (namely,
where do I refuel?)
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World’s first drivable hydrogen powered fuel cell / by-wire vehicle
(2002)
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Skateboard, Anyone?? 17
Inside the cockpit….
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So, you see, in addition to being COMPLETELY CLEAN and VERY EFFICIENT, Hydrogen & Fuel Cells
can also lead to VERY EXCITING new vehicles !!
- 0 to 60 mph < 10 seconds
- 300 mile range
- 10,000 PSI compressed H2
- By-wire controls
- electric all-wheel drive
- 11 inch “skateboard”
GM “Sequel” (2005)
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Key Drivers
- Energy Independence
- Energy Security & Diversity
- Reducing Air Pollution
- Reducing Global Warming Emissions
- Protecting Public Health
- Creating Jobs
- Cars with performance & features beating expectations
Industry-Government partnership can play a key role in facilitating the commercialization of
hydrogen and fuel cell technology
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For more information please see
www.gmability.com
www.hydrogen.gov
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