General Motors (GM) and Opel will test the durability and day-to-day reliability of their fuel cell propelled vehicles by staging a marathon drive across Europe starting May 3.
The long-distance journey for the hydrogen-powered prototype, "HydroGen3" (based on the Opel Zafira) will cover a distance of about 10,000 km and will pass through 14 countries.
The marathon will cover an average of 500 km a day, starting in Hammerfest, Norway, Europe's most northerly town. It will finish on June 11 in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon and Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point of the European continent. The HydroGen3 will stop over in 14 cities.
The vehicle is propelled by a 60 kW/82 hp electric motor, with a fuel cell generating the necessary electrical energy from liquid hydrogen stored in the on-board tank.
There will also be a travelling exhibition on fuel cells and the use of hydrogen as a fuel. And experts from GM's fuel cell development center will give lectures on the current status of fuel cell and hydrogen technology at local universities.
The HydroGen3 will be driven by journalists and celebrities from the 14 countries. Dr. Byron McCormick, the Executive Director of GM Fuel Cell Activities, says, "The choice of drivers demonstrates that our experiment is taking place under absolutely realistic conditions. The experience we will gain from the day-to-day driving will be an important supplement to our existing test results."
So far, the HydroGen3 vehicles have undergone a total of 132 different testing procedures all over the world and under all conceivable climatic conditions.