GM Joins Hands with US Army for Fuel Cell Chevy Colorado

MANILA: General Motors, the makers of Chevrolet have recently collaborated with US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering center (TARDEC) to make Colorado a military-grade car. For this, they are modifying it into a commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicle which can withstand the extremes of daily military use for 12 months.

“Hydrogen fuel cell technology is important to GM’s advanced propulsion portfolio, and this enables us to put our technology to the test in a vehicle that will face punishing military duty cycles,” said Charlie Freese, Executive Director of GM’s Global Fuel Cell Engineering activities.

Fuel cells have become the choice of the hour owing to its very high low-end torque capability which is not only useful in off-road situations but also has the ability to generate electricity while not in use. Thus, it can be put to use in both commercial and military applications. The US military has been interested in hydrogen fuel cells for some time and the development and research facilities of both GM and TARDEC is just 20 minutes apart which is really allowing them to fully corroborate and work effectively.

"The potential capabilities hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can bring to the Warfighter are extraordinary, and our engineers and scientists are excited about the opportunity to exercise the limits of this demonstrator. FCVs are very quiet vehicles, which scouts, special operators and other specialties place a premium,” he said. “What's more, fuel cells generate water as a by-product, something extremely valuable in austere environments,” said TARDEC Director Paul Rogers.