Project Driveway: GM's real world fuel cell vehicle test

First large-scale market test of fuel cell electric vehicles

GM is launching the largest fuel cell electric vehicle fleet into the hands of regular people everywhere. O.K., not everywhere, but in LA, New York City, and Washington, DC, although this program will probably spread to other locations where hydrogen is available.

For three months, regular people will replace their current vehicle and, instead, drive a Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell vehicle.

The Equinox fuel cell vehicle is road-ready and expected to meet all applicable 2007 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The Equinox also includes many safety features such as driver and passenger frontal air bags and roof rail side-impact air bags; anti-locking braking system (ABS); StabiliTrak stability enhancement technology and OnStar.

Thus, Equinox fuel cell drivers are not signing up for some crazy, dangerous experiment.

This test will go on for the next few years, as GM monitors these fuel cell drivers, noting their likes and dislikes and, of course, any technical problems. By 2010, if all goes well, GM is hoping that it could start selling next generation fuel cell vehicles at the same cost as gasoline-powered vehicles, and Project Driveway is meant to help achieve that goal.