GM tests fuel cell cars in real world

The Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell will generate PR and feedback, but is this really the future of personal transportation?

Dripping exhuast
The Equinox Fuel Cell's exhaust emits only water vapor. Unlike an ordinary car's exhaust, it does not carry away heat, so the vehicle needs a bigger grill to cool the fuel cell stack up front.
Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell
Dripping exhuast
In case people might not realize this is no ordinary crossover SUV, GM slathered decals depicting water molecules all over the Equinox Fuel Cell and added a couple more stickers at the back letting everyone know it uses "No gasoline" and emits "ZERO emissions."

But there are more subtle, and functional, cues. The tailpipes, for example, are melded right into the body work at the rear of the car in a way a regular vehicle's tailpipes wouldn't be. These tailpipes never get hot, since the only thing that passes through them is cool water vapor.

Up front, the Equinox's extra-large grill opening and the big vents under the headlights are there because, even though the exhaust is cool, the fuel cell does create heat. In a regular car, the tailpipe carries away about a third of that excess heat.

Since the Equinox's exhaust doesn't take away any heat, the fuel cell vehicle requires extra cooling area up front.


Project Driveway

Fuel Cell

Power flow

Water

Safety

Future

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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.