For Release: August 7, 2001
Contact(s):
Scott Fosgard, GM Technology
Phone: (810) 986-0623 ; (810) 899-2582 (cell)
Email:
scott.fosgard@gm.com
Bob Campbell, Hass Associates
Phone: (248) 528-0283; (248) 895-0791 (cell)
Email:
rcampbell@ha-i.com
Traverse City, Mich. - An automotive technology may provide a solution to the growing demand for electricity.
General Motors today unveiled a stationary generator based on the company's state-of-the-art fuel processing and stack technology for automotive applications. The unit, which can generate clean, quiet and efficient power, could be a backup generator for subdivisions at risk of losing power because of common blackouts or could even replace standard sources for electricity in individual homes. The stationary unit runs on natural gas, methane or gasoline.
"We think the most likely application will be in businesses, office complexes, hospitals and new subdivisions," said Larry Burns, GM's vice president for research and development, and planning. "But it could easily be sized to power the average single-family home.
"With a fuel cell, there wouldn't be power failures or, at the very least, the likelihood should be greatly reduced."
The unit converts a hydrocarbon into electricity by way of an electrochemical reaction, unlike a conventional generator that relies on combustion and produces noise, vibration and exhaust in the process. The processor extracts a high-quality stream of hydrogen from the fossil fuel to feed the fuel stack. The hydrogen is combined with oxygen from the air to generate power. While the unit is a 5-kilowatt stack, it could easily be sized to accommodate businesses and homes.
"Because most homes are heated with natural gas, we have devised a way to extract hydrogen from natural gas for home applications," Burns said. "We think this will be the predominant fuel for home and business applications, and would be an easy transition for consumers.
"It also gets people comfortable with fuel cells before they get introduced to meet the more demanding requirements of automobiles."
The unit, which has been operating for six months at GM's fuel cell research facility in Rochester, N.Y., is a logical extension of GM's ongoing research and development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Fuel cells likely will be marketable in stationary applications before vehicles. Natural gas could be the ideal conduit to the hydrogen economy in the stationary market in the same way that gasoline could be the bridge fuel for vehicles.
Natural gas pipelines are as common in many areas as gasoline stations are along the nation's highways.
"Fuel cells are an emerging technology, with the potential for widespread application," said Burns. "We're doing some cutting-edge research in this area, and it only makes sense to use what we're learning in ways that provide the greatest benefit to our customers, communities and shareholders."
