GM, SAIC promote fuel cell propulsion technology

Shanghai – General Motors Corp. and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC) announced on April 20 the launch of SAIC’s Shanghai Brand Fuel Cell Vehicle, which is powered by GM’s latest fourth-generation fuel cell propulsion technology.

The vehicle from SAIC uses the same 700 bar high-pressure hydrogen fuel cell system adopted in the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell. Ten Shanghai Brand Fuel Cell Vehicles will be built. The zero-emission high-tech vehicles will join the Equinox Fuel Cell as part of a fleet of both GM and SAIC vehicles to shuttle VIPs at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

"The Shanghai and Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles will be featured in the most extensive fuel cell demonstration program ever conducted in China . This follows the government’s call for the creation of a sustainable transportation system," said GM Group Vice President and GM Asia Pacific President Nick Reilly. "GM supports China’s move toward sustainability, and we are providing our latest fuel cell technology in line with our overall strategy of in China, with China, for China."

SAIC engineers have been co-located at GM facilities in Germany and GM engineers have been co-located at SAIC facilities in China to produce the vehicles. The original Equinox fuel cell propulsion system has been modified and improved to fit into the Shanghai Brand Fuel Cell Vehicle.

GM and SAIC are the exclusive joint global automobile partner of World Expo 2010 Shanghai. In line with the exposition’s th eme of “Better City, Better Life,” GM and SAIC plan to showcase their solutions for sustainable transportation while promoting the vehicles of tomorrow at their corporate pavilion.

The two automakers, which operate eight joint ventures in China, earlier signed a pair of agreements to promote advanced vehicle technology. Their Shanghai GM joint venture began selling the Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid last year as part of its Drive to Green strategy. China is slated to become one of the first markets for the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle in 2011.

GM has deployed more than 100 Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles around the globe, making it the largest fuel cell electric vehicle fleet to date. Vehicles are being driven by a wide range of customers, businesses, government agencies, celebrities and media as part of Project Driveway.