GM reveals its ecovision

Jun 15 2009 Chris Russon

THE starting grid for transport of the future has been revealed by General Motors with the troubled motoring giant unveiling its plans for alternative fuel vehicles.

Electricity, hydrogen and bio-fuels all play a part in keeping us on the move in the run up to 2050 and we have just been given a sneak preview of what may lie ahead.

With the world's biggest car maker pulling together survival packages for its operations in the US and Europe, the company is showing off its 'ecovision' of non-fossil fuel engines.

As early as 2012 the five seat Vauxhall Ampera is due on sale in Britain with its petrol-electric propulsion system giving it a theoretical average fuel consumption of 176mpg and CO2 emissions of just 40g/km.

Around town it can be emission free with a range of around 40 miles running purely on battery power.

The Ampera is what GM calls an EREV - extended range electric vehicle - which runs on electricity at all times but uses a 1.4-litre petrol engine to generate power once the battery pack is discharged.

As such it has a range of some 300 miles and can be refuelled at a petrol station or recharged from any mains supply, which takes around three hours, to give another 60 miles of zero emission motoring.

According to GM cars such as the Ampera will be one of five different types of vehicles on our roads by 2050 with a potential to cut CO2 emissions from transport by 50 per cent.

Everyday cars will be battery powered and have a range of around 40 miles - enough for the average commute - before being recharged overnight.

Greater range will be delivered by EREV cars while hydrogen fuel cells will be used to power long distance models.

Buses will also be fuelled by hydrogen and heavy trucks will be powered by bio fuel engines.

For the green dream to become reality it is hydrogen which is the only true zero emission fuel.

Carbon dioxide is a by-product of domestic electricity generation and will also be produced by EREV cars and bio fuel, although at lower levels than from petrol or diesel vehicles

Hydrogen fuel cells work by combining hydrogen with oxygen to produce electricity which drives the vehicle's motor. The only waste is harmless water vapour.

Trials of hydrogen vehicles are already under way with GM running a fleet of ten Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell SUVs in Berlin.

The so-called HydroGen4 system can now run in sub zero temperatures - a stumbling block of earlier fuel cell designs - and the high tech Equinox has a top speed of 100mph and a range of 200 miles.

Driving one of the prototypes what is instantly apparent is the huge amount of acceleration from the electric engine and although the vehicle weighs more than two tons it can achieve 0 to 60mph in 12 seconds.

On the road it feels brisk and sturdy and surprisingly there is noise in the cabin.

With the exception of road rumble and wind rush you expect electric vehicles to be almost silent runners but the sound of the compressors and cooling systems required to run a fuel cell leave you in no doubt something remarkable is happening under the bonnet.

Apart from the fuel cell the only difference between this and a standard Equinox is the loss of the middle rear seat and a small hump in the cargo area to accommodate the three hydrogen tanks.

Refuelling takes between three to five minutes but with only four hydrogen filling points in Berlin the trials are limited to the city.

GM says the infrastructure is a political issue and Governments across Europe have a pivotal role to play in developing the networks required.

As well as the environmental benefits there are huge economic prizes at stake with rich pickings to be had from being at the forefront of the new technology.

Gordon Brown has indicated he wants the Ampera to be built in Britain at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port factory on Merseyside, securing thousands of jobs.

With the car comes added investment from the companies required to produce the high tech batteries.

Although Canadian firm Magna has emerged favourite to take over GM's operations in Europe negotiations continue and the future of the Vauxhall and Opel factories is still to be determined.

What is certain is there is going to be a sea change in the kind of cars we drive - where they're built remains to be seen.