Imagine of becoming amongst the selected few driving hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles in many test areas across the globe within five or six years! It is not a dream any more. General Motors Corp. is bracing up to make it a reality for the ordinary people.

Larry Burns, vice president of research and development of GM, confirmed that his company has moved 500 fuel cell engineers and scientists working in its laboratory side into the chain of command responsible for car productions. Though, Burns refrained from earmarking the exact year for mass production of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles, he expected it to happen well before 2020.

In an interview to the Associated Press at the Detroit technical campus of the GM, he seemed to be more than 90% sure on the development of feasible technology and infrastructure to market hydrogen-fuelled vehicles at workable price. GM’s organizational changes, announced Friday, also indicates a step forward in its quest for leadership in the race to bring a fuel-cell electric vehicle into mass production.

We’ve passed another milestone where we have come far enough in the development of this technology to start preparing for real production. That’s a very significant milestone in our judgment

,Burns said.

The news and consequent move by GM show a transition out of the trial-and-error stage into the commercialization stage with solid plans. GM by now has hand-built the Sequel, a hydrogen-powered sport utility car with a range of about 300 miles. It was test driven safely on public roads in upstate New York. The only thing impinging it is to reduce the costs to make fuel cell vehicles marketable. GM has plans to place more than 100 fuel cell-powered vehicles with consumers in New York, Washington and Los Angeles later this year.

Every auto major in the world is researching on Hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars that use hydrogen to produce electricity to run an electric motor. These vehicles are quieter than gasoline engines and their only waste product is water. But high costs, lack of fuelling stations, need for improved storage capacity and better range are the most visible obstacles to make such cars viable.

However, with the mass production of hydrogen fueled vehicles, our dependence on fossil fuels like petroleum will come down significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions. But, still miles are to be covered. Lets see whether GM, Toyota, Honda or Ford will make our ride from carbon age to clean fuel age smooth and safe.

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Via: Globeandmail