Honda and GM to Build Next-Generation Fuel Cell Stacks in Michigan http://ift.tt/2jN9sbi
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Monday, January 30, 2017
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Honda and GM to Build Next-Generation Fuel Cell Stacks in Michigan
DETROIT, Michigan – Honda and General Motors will begin producing a compact, next-generation fuel cell stack in about three years at GM’s Brownstown Center Township, Michigan, battery pack factory. GM and Honda will split an initial investment of about $85 million in the new joint venture, called Fuel Cell Systems Manufacturing, and plans to add nearly 100 jobs about 2020 at the Michigan plant, GM said in its joint announcement with Honda.
“Today’s announcement finally marks the arrival of fuel cells,” said Dan Nicholson, GM’s vice president for global propulsion systems. “It’s not a science project, anymore.”
Both automakers are using the joint venture to share investment and spread the technology, to go through design iterations more rapidly, and to build the technology’s economy of scale more quickly.
Although GM and Honda executives declined any details about fuel cell stack output, expected costs or Brownstown Center Township production levels, they touted lower production costs due to higher levels of mass production and lower materials costs, including platinum.
“We’ll be able to scale up to high volumes, if necessary,” Freese said.
The joint venture expansion of GM’s factory received nearly $2 million in state incentives, and Michigan Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley was on hand to make a few remarks about the importance of the joint venture to the state. So far, leases of ultra-low-volume hydrogen fuel cell models like the Honda Clarity and Toyota Mirai have been limited to California, which has increased refueling stations to about 30, according to Steven Center, vice president for environmental business and product regulations at Honda.
GM’s Milford Proving Ground has one refueling center on-site, said Mark Reuss, GM’s executive vice president for global product development, purchasing and supply chain. GM and Honda have not signed on with any refueling infrastructure programs to date.
The two automakers displayed a model of what the next-generation fuel-cell stack will look like, though there will be changes before 2020. The cube-shaped stack is probably about the size of a modern three-cylinder Ford engine. While timing would be right for the next generation Honda Clarity fuel cell car, Reuss declined to confirm his company has any hydrogen fuel-cell powered commercial model planned.
Potential applications for GM include aerospace – the automaker developed fuel cell stacks for the Apollo space program in the 1960s – and military, Reuss said, later adding that home power applications are possible. That doesn’t rule out a GM retail car or truck with hydrogen fuel-cell power, however.
Honda marketed its first fuel cell Clarity sedan from 2008-14, and began selling its second-generation Clarity in California last December. The company is convinced fuel cells will take an increasing share of the global automotive market, said Toshiaki Mikoshiba, chief operating officer for the North American region of Honda Motor Company.
In addition to its Apollo program work, GM tested fuel cells in its Chevrolet Corvair van-based Electrovan of the mid-1960s, which needed the entire cargo area of the van in order to fit the fuel cell stacks. GM also built fuel cell versions of its Chevrolet Equinox in 2009.
Honda and GM announced the cooperative venture three years ago, and they both consider sharing engineering and manufacturing resources key to reducing the cost of the technology. GM’s Reuss and Honda’s Mikoshiba both touted a positive relationship between the two automakers, which begun in 1999 with a program that led to Honda supplying 3.5-liter V-6 engines to GM for the Saturn Vue Redline. About 50,000 Saturns were built with the engine, over the life of the program.
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Mid-Engine Corvette Surfaces with ZR1 Prototypes
If you don’t want to keep a secret, you might want to give the research and development gang at GM a call.
New images showing a heavily camouflaged mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette surfaced recently with several ZR1 prototypes during a round of not-so-secret winter testing.
Even though the next level supercar was shrouded in a concealing black cover and flanked by two Heavy Duty Chevy trucks, our spies managed to snap some clear shots of the mid-engine unicorn.
We are told that the holy grail of Corvettes was captured as engineers sorted out traction and stability control under icy road conditions. The mid-engine design is easy to make out with the prototype captured next to a C7 ZR1, but some naysayers also believe this car could be shared with Cadillac.
“Regardless of the badging, there is no longer any question that this is a mid-engine vehicle that is in full-on development within GM, and undoubtedly racing toward production,” our insiders tell us.
The C7s and mid-engine prototype share a long hood but the prototype has a longer, stretched rear deck and a shorter dash to axle ratio. The hood line is also lower and curves forward like a C3’s front end without a big V-8 engine holding it down. Also massive air-intakes can be seen that are set into the rear flanks in order to cool the mid-engine.
Zora Arkus-Duntov, the father of the Corvette who tried producing a mid-engine version for years, may finally get his due. GM trademarked the Zora name in 2014 and the Zora Corvette seems to be on the fast track here.
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9 Cool Cars from L.A.’s Inaugural 2017 Classic Auto Show...
9 Cool Cars from L.A.’s Inaugural 2017 Classic Auto Show http://ift.tt/2kabMaC
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9 Cool Cars from L.A.’s Inaugural 2017 Classic Auto Show
Drive around the any of the congested boulevards and freeways that partition Los Angeles and before long you’re likely to see everything from vintage Jaguars to old school muscle cars to trophy trucks and everything in between. The inaugural 2017 Los Angeles Classic Auto Show, held on January 27-29, had all that and then some. More than 600 cars representing Southern California’s diverse car culture were on display at the south hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Here are nine of our favorite rides from the event:
1987 Morgan Plus 8
This particular example built in 1987 is virtually the same as when Morgan first started production of the Plus 8 in 1968. You’d be hard pressed to think of anything else from the ’80s that’s quite as classy (in a proper British sort of wood-framed way). No, your prom date’s taffeta dress with the puffy sleeves doesn’t count.
1962 Shelby Cobra owned by Bruce Meyer
Bruce Meyer, the Grand Marshal of this 2017 Classic Auto Show and one of the founding chairmen of L.A.’s Petersen Automotive Museum, brought four of his magnificent cars for display. The best, in our opinion, is Cobra No. 1 – the first Shelby Cobra ever produced. It is arguably the most sought after American muscle car ever made and the car that launched Carroll’s legend.
1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Chevrolet Camaro (as long as you don’t count that little gap in production) and we loved this 1967 RS Convertible. With only 65,000 miles on its original 250 inline six, we think this baby’s held up beautifully. Fifty never looked quite so good.
Ford “Moal” Speedway Special
This special project commissioned by Wayne Carini of the show “Chasing Classic Cars” and built by Steve Moal’s Coachworks was fashioned after European racers of the late ’20s and early ’30s. This one-of-one, completely hand-built car is powered by a flathead Ford engine. Every other component was made specifically for this car. The word “bespoke” may be overused by hipsters, but we’re completely fine pulling it out for this unicorn.
1988 Toyota Tercel
We know what you’re thinking. A Tercel? Yes. This subcompact was the first front-wheel drive effort from Toyota and it was virtually indestructible. Bet you had one, or you knew someone who had one, and wishes they’d held onto it (OK, maybe not). Plus, this third-generation model is in mint condition. Not surprisingly it’s a member of Toyota’s not so exclusive 100,000-mile club.
1955 Volkswagen Bus “Samba”
Called the “Samba” because of its 23 windows, this classic VW bus is the perfect definition of a California style restoration. This one’s been upgraded with a more robust engine, classic Porsche Fuchs alloy wheels, and carbon ceramic brakes. This lowrider VW might actually hit its indicated “100 mph” mark on the speedometer.
1941 Chrysler Town & Country “Woodie”
Six hundred of these beauties were built, and this example is one of only 15 said to survive. All of the wood on this “barrel-back” is original. This wagon is powered by a six-cylinder engine and a Fluid Drive transmission. It seats eight, and suddenly we want to take seven of our closest friends canoeing.
1974 Mini Moke
Originally built for the British military as a utility vehicle, the Moke didn’t really cut the mustard. It was only two-wheel drive, underpowered with bad ground clearance, and nowhere near hearty enough for most military tasks. Hence, they became “resort” vehicles, and for a while were the official rental car of Catalina Island. Also, take everything off, and they’re stackable like plastic lawn chairs. One of these would look good in the office.
1988 Ferrari Testarossa
In the ’80s there were few cars more lusted after by pre-pubescent boys than the Ferrari Testarossa. In particular, we love this Testarossa (“red head” in Italian) we found out on the floor. The fiery, 12-cylinder mid-engine sex machine is a showstopper — and a show star, having played a lead role in “Miami Vice.” Its Pininfarina-penned design produced virtually zero lift with no spoiler. Take that, Countach. Even the license plate on this bad boy is perfect.
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