GM Debuts the Provoq, the Cadillac of Fuel Cell Vehicles
By Ron Cogan
General Motors is moving its hydrogen fuel cell program up another notch with its new Cadillac Provoq fuel cell concept vehicle. In no uncertain terms, the automaker is showing it will utilize its most advanced technologies in all GM brands from entry-level to top end.
While its early hydrogen fuel cell vehicle concepts and demonstrators featured the corporate GM brand, that changed recently with a transition to the Chevrolet marque for the General’s most high-profile fuel cell efforts, beginning with the Equinox Fuel Cell crossover vehicle. The Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell will soon be showing up on public highways as part of the automaker’s “Project Driveway” demonstration program.
Now a Cadillac fuel cell variant is destined to capture the spotlight as well. The Provoq is an extension of the automaker’s innovative E-Flex propulsion system that was first shown last year in the Chevrolet Volt concept car that debuted at the North American International Auto Show and the Opel Flextreme that was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The Cadillac Provoq represents an evolutionary move because it transitions E-Flex into the realm of the luxury crossover, melding high-end features with an environmentally friendly and progressive plug-in/hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. It features brake-by-wire and shift-by wire, along with other innovations like a roof-integrated solar panel that helps power on-board electronics.
The Provoq uses GM’s fifth-generation fuel cell technology. Showing just how fast the automaker’s fuel cell work is progressing, this latest fuel cell is reportedly half the size of the previous generation but still able to provide greater levels of performance. The all-wheel drive, zero-emission Provoq crossover is said to offer a 0-60 mph elapsed time of under 9 seconds with a top speed that hits triple digits. Driving range is about 300 miles. Energy is supplied by hydrogen stored beneath the vehicle’s floor and augmented with a lithium-ion battery pack, which can be charged via a grid-connected electrical outlet. Charge ports are located in the vehicle’s left and right fenders.
GM has been on a roll with its hydrogen fuel cell program. In recent years, the progression included the HydroGen3, a prototype fuel cell model based on the Opel Zafira. Examples were placed in test service worldwide with well-known fleets like those at FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service, and Ikea.
A next-generation fuel cell program emerged with the AUTOnomy, which first offered up GM’s vision of creating a fuel cell vehicle with drive-by-wire and a “skateboard” chassis. The skateboard configuration places all drive components and energy storage in a self-contained rolling chassis. The AUTOnomy showcased the potential of eliminating the mechanical connection between body and chassis through brake-by-wire and steer-by-wire, using motors and servos with integration to the cockpit via wiring and connectors. Decoupling the body and chassis in this way makes it a more straightforward process to adapt different body styles to a common chassis. Eliminating mechanical connections and related componentry like steering columns also saves weight, thus enhancing fuel efficiency. Following the AUTOnomy were the Hi-wire fuel cell vehicle concept and then the drivable Sequel concept, also riding on self-contained skateboard chassis.
The Chevrolet Volt fuel cell/plug-in hybrid variant that made its debut at last year’s Shanghai Motor Show signaled the evolutionary nature of GM’s E-Flex program. The plan is to provide different fuel and technology answers to meet the needs of specific markets with gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, ethanol flexible-fuel, and hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrids. In each case, a powerplant running on a fuel of choice functions solely as a generator, which in tandem with grid-charged battery power provides the juice for electric drive.
With the Cadillac Provoq, General Motors is extending the reach of this high-tech and environmentally friendly drive technology to the luxury market in a very high-profile way.
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