NextFest 2006

The zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered concepts exhibited at NextFest included GM’s ultra-futuristic, all-electrically controlled Hy-wire; an attractive, hydrogen-powered truck from GM’s Chevrolet called the Sequel, a future version of which GM says will likely be the first fuel-cell vehicle it will commercially produce; and the Chevrolet Equinox, a small, four-door SUV.  (read more)

• View the NextFest Hydrogen & Hy-wire slideshow
• View the NextFest Sequel slideshow
• View the NextFest Explorations slideshow

GM is working with partners it has yet to name on developing a home kit for hydrogen refueling. The kit will be similar to an existing one for natural gas refueling called "Phill" — a home appliance station for compressing natural gas built by FuelMaker, a firm with which GM and Honda have partnered to help customers refill the automakers’ natural-gas-powered commercial vehicles. (read more)

• View the NextFest Hydrogen & Hy-wire slideshow
• View the NextFest Sequel slideshow
• View the NextFest Explorations slideshow

In 1959, the first fuel-cell vehicle was introduced in the guise of a 20-hp farming tractor built by Harry Ihrig for Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company. This was 120 years after German scientist Christian Friedrich Schönbein, in January 1839, first proved fuel cells were viable by accurately laying out the science behind them.  (read more)

• View the NextFest Hydrogen & Hy-wire slideshow
• View the NextFest Sequel slideshow
• View the NextFest Explorations slideshow

While the Equinox may represent GM’s nearest-term fuel-cell offering, the Chevy Sequel, which GM launched on Sept. 11, resembles, according to GM spokeswoman Kathleen Hamilton, “what [fuel-cell] production, one day, we think, will be like.”  (read more)

• View the NextFest Sequel slideshow
• View the NextFest Hydrogen & Hy-wire slideshow
• View the NextFest Explorations slideshow

Fuel-cell vehicles need lots of air intake for cooling purposes. The Sequel has two vents on each side of the rear of the vehicle for cooling the battery pack and the motors for the rear wheels. Because the wheel motors and battery are not 100 percent efficient, some heat is generated and needs to be dissipated through a cooling system. (read more)

• View the NextFest Sequel slideshow
• View the NextFest Hydrogen & Hy-wire slideshow
• View the NextFest Explorations slideshow

The Sequel was recently road-tested by several journalists in San Diego, some of whom cited whirring sounds emanating from the ventilation ports needed to cool the fuel-cell circuitry, but only when intently listening. The overall noise levels in the Sequel are actually lower than that of conventional vehicles, but that overall quietness from the lack of mechanicals in the car can make outside or novel “wheel noise” more noticeable to first-time drivers.  (read more)

• View the NextFest Sequel slideshow
• View the NextFest Hydrogen & Hy-wire slideshow
• View the NextFest Explorations slideshow