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The Army goes off-roading with a hydrogen Chevy Colorado

The Chevrolet Colorado is joining the service. General Motors is working with the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center (TARDEC) to build a Colorado powered by a commercial hydrogen fuel cell stack, and the Army will use it in "extremes of daily military use for 12 months." TARDEC is the department that tests "advanced military automotive technology" and integrates them into ground systems. The aim is to see how well the benefits of a fuel cell vehicle can be adapted to the battlefield; hydrogen-powered vehicles are quiet, torquey, produce water, and can be used to provide electricity in the field. GM says the design sketch above "foreshadows" the Colorado that will go to boot camp and beyond, making it clear that this won't be the average midsize pickup. The press release below has more. Related Video: GM and U.S. Army to Demonstrate Extreme Off-Road Hydrogen Fuel Cell Chevrolet Colorado Agreement focused on proving unique utility and viability of fuel cell propulsion WARREN, Mich. 2015-11-19 – General Motors and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center (TARDEC) are modifying a Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup truck to run on a commercial hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system and will expose the truck to the extremes of daily military use for 12 months. "Hydrogen fuel cell technology is important to GM's advanced propulsion portfolio, and this enables us to put our technology to the test in a vehicle that will face punishing military duty cycles," said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM's Global Fuel Cell Engineering activities. Fuel cell propulsion has very high low-end torque capability useful in off-road environments. It also offers exportable electric power and quiet operation, attractive characteristics to both commercial and military use. "The potential capabilities hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can bring to the Warfighter are extraordinary, and our engineers and scientists are excited about the opportunity to exercise the limits of this demonstrator," said TARDEC Director Paul Rogers. "FCVs are very quiet vehicles, which scouts, special operators and other specialties place a premium," he said. "What's more, fuel cells generate water as a by-product, something extremely valuable in austere environments." GM and TARDEC have fuel cell development and research facilities located 20 minutes apart in Pontiac and Warren, Mich.

Chevy to offer new Cruze as a hatchback in the US

Chevrolet plans to offer a five-door hatchback version of the new Cruze in the United States, according to the latest intel from Automotive News. In addition to the sedan form we're familiar with, the outgoing Cruze was offered as a hatchback in some markets overseas, but not in America – a decision which Mark Reuss, GM's EVP in charge of product development, characterized as "a pre-bankruptcy planning mistake." The new Chevy Cruze is set to debut later this week. Although the American automaker has yet to confirm which bodystyles will be offered where, AN reports that a five-door model was already shown to dealers at their national meeting in Las Vegas last week. AN points out that the Ford Focus with which the new Cruze will be contending is offered as both a sedan and hatchback in America, with the latter accounting for some 40 percent of sales.

Surprise! GM putting aluminum in next-gen pickups

Last month, General Motors launched a series of ads touting the benefits of steel over aluminum – specifically, with regard to the Chevy Silverado versus the Ford F-150. (Kind of. We're not sure what a grizzly bear has to do with anything.) We took issue with the ads, with editor in chief Mike Austin saying they "reek of insecurity, and distract from the Silverado's strengths that could be used for positive advertising." But what bothers us more, is that yet another report surfaced claiming anti-aluminum GM will indeed use the weight-saving material in its next-generation fullsize trucks. On Tuesday, GM announced a $877-million investment for its truck plant in Flint, MI. But Reuters says that huge overhaul is because the trucks will use "substantially different equipment than the tools GM uses today." The report specifically states, "People familiar with the company's plans say GM's next-generation pickups and SUVs will make use of various materials, including aluminum and lightweight steel, to shed weight and gain fuel efficiency to meet tougher federal standards." The Silverado already uses a few aluminum components in the engine and hood, and if more widespread use will help GM build its best fullsize trucks ever, then that's great. Honestly, we have no reason to doubt that aluminum will be used in the next Silverado and GMC Sierra. We just hope GM remembers that nothing is ever truly deleted from the bowels of the Internet when it launches the subsequent "look how great aluminum is!" campaign. Related Video: News Source: Reuters Green Plants/Manufacturing Chevrolet GM GMC Truck aluminum steel