2007 Chevrolet Volt E-Flex Fuel Cell Concept

In the past six months, General Motors has made some pretty hugedevelopments on the Chevrolet Volt. The little compact has not only been announced for production, but contracts for development of the internal systems have already been awarded. After such unexpectedly positive feedback to the very clever E-Flex series electrical powertrain, General Motors decided to do a second take on the Volt, but this time swapping out its little internal combustion engine for its brand new fifth-generation hydrogen fuel cell, which guarantees zero tailpipe emissions one-hundred percent of the time; a car that debuted this past April in Shanghai, China. This overview focuses on the changes between the original concept and the new hydrogen fuel cell version.

Both the initial Volt Extended Range Vehicle and Volt Fuel Cell share the same general construction. From the outside, the two cars look the same with their low-slung four-door three-box sedan shape, and ride on the same global compact car platform

On the outside, the Volt Fuel Cell looks the same, but it's different underneath. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

that's shared with the Chevy Cobalt, Pontiac G5, HHR and the Astra. Both cars even use the E-Flex powertrain system, which features electric propulsion and a separateinternal combustion engine or fuel cell to charge the batteries. In other words, the engine or fuel cell doesn't directly turn the wheels as it does in a conventional hybrid or for that matter a regular car. There are, however, differences in layout, powertrain and technology.

The key difference between the two models is that one features a fuel cell. GM's RandD boffins have figured out a way to shrink the size of the fuel cell stacks by 30-percent while retaining the same power generating capabilities and power output

Strip back the shell and you'll find a tank of hydrogen instead of the ERV's saddle fuel tanks. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

ability (80 kW) as available with the fuel cell unit found in the fourth generation model. Essentially, the fuel cell is now small enough to fit into the same area as the initial ERV's 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo engine. The Volt ERV was designed with a single regular 120 kW electric motor that powers the front wheels, much like any other run of the mill compact car. The Volt Fuel Cell also has a single front-mounted electric motor, but it's less powerful at 70 kW... and there's more; the fuel cell version is actually all-wheel drive, featuring two in-wheel electric motors. The electricmotors that drive each of the rear wheels are 25 kW induction motors (think DC brushless) that provide 33.5 horsepower apiece. GM's experience with previous fuel cell vehicles means that it's no stranger to this technology. The compact design of the electric

In-wheel electric motor gives the Volt 33.5 hp per rear wheel, plus the ability to overdrive during cornering to improve balance. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

motors helped the engineers find space to locate the 9 pound hydrogen tank.

What's even more exciting is that the use of two individual rear wheels allows GM's engineers to essentially accomplish the electric equivalent of Acura's Super-Handling All Wheel Drive system. Because the speed of the rear wheels can be controlled individually, the car can effectively prevent oversteer and understeer by speeding up (or overdriving) the outer rear wheel, while slowing down the inner rear wheel, reducing the effects of understeer. Who says that a hydrogen fuel cell car can't be fun to drive?

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