Cadillac Provoq is latest host for GM's E-Flex fuel cell powertrain

GM is planning a few of these E-Flex vehicles, and while the Chevrolet Volt is the current flagship, this one ain't no slouch in the looks department. Perhaps more importantly, the Cadillac Provoq crossover looks much closer to a ready-for-market car than your average concept. This edition of E-Flex uses a fuel-cell stack to power a 70-kilowatt motor for the front wheels and a pair of in-hub 30-kilowatt motors in the back. A pair of 10,000 psi hydrogen storage tanks and a lithium-ion battery should muster about a 300-mile range, with only about 20 of that coming from the battery. Still, you can charge the battery with plugs on both sides of the car, and that 20 miles might be just enough to complete your daily commute -- or perhaps fuel a desperate attempt to track down a hydrogen filling station. There's a solar panel on top to help power internal electronics, and the powertrain design allows for a good amount of storage and leg room. It's unclear at this time if GM's going to take Provoq to market, but we're certainly looking forward to one of these E-Flex dealios going all the way.

[VinylVision @ Jan 9th 2008 2:24PM]

I want this Cadillac model and want GD dealers to be refueling stations. GM dealers should sell both vehicles AND fuel?

[BigD145 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:25PM]

Double the battery mileage and cover the entire roof, every square centimeter of it, with solar cells. Also, stubbify the front end some more to cut down the weight.

Three motors will drive the price higher than it needs to be.

[fuma @ Jan 9th 2008 2:47PM]

...and when it's covered in snow?

[BigD145 @ Jan 9th 2008 4:02PM]

They are solar panels. They get warm. In the morning, as the sun comes up, you wipe off the snow. I don't think I'm going to worry too much about keeping snow off my solar panels during that nightly snow.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 9th 2008 2:31PM]

My aunt has the Cadillac SRX. Its a great car in every way. Once it gets the upgrades similar to the 2008 CTS, its gonna look incredible.

This model up here looks like it sacrifices vertical size for horizontal - similar to the Chrysler Pacifica.

[starkruzr @ Jan 9th 2008 2:40PM]

Nonsense. "Fuel cell" is code for "wait, you think we're going to release this in your lifetime? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! You silly, gullible moron! Get real!"

Prediction: Even the Volt (or anything like it) won't hit the streets until 2020. An incredibly pessimistic bet on anything resembling fuel efficiency technology is always a safe one.

[kuade @ Jan 9th 2008 3:14PM]

I completely understand your sinisism but I am optomistic about the development of fuel cell vehicles. With gasoline prices continuing to soar and the United States refusal to build more refineries, alternative fuel vehicles are a reality. Unfortunatly GM has many great "concepts" out there yet they will fail to deliver like always. A Japanees or German automobile manufacturer will beat GM to the starting line with fuel cell power by a few years, maybe even a decade.

[andy @ Jan 9th 2008 2:45PM]

Hindenburg.

[kuade @ Jan 9th 2008 3:18PM]

Pure Hydrogen is very stable, pure oxygen is not. Gasoline is far more volatile than Hydrogen because gasoline remains in liquid form when spilled, Hydrogen evaporates almost immediately.

[cduran01 @ Jan 9th 2008 3:34PM]

Actually the Hindenburg didn't go down because of the hydrogen, it caught fire because of the materials they used to make the outer shell were extremely flammable.

And another misconception....hydrogen alone doesn't cause an explosion, its a lot of concentrated hydrogen and an immense amount of heat (a lot more than what can be generated during any car accident, even one with a fuel tanker).

Honda is introducing one in CA this year.

[Student Driver @ Jan 9th 2008 3:06PM]

Lithium-Ion? Hydrogen? If anything on this came from Sony or has a Dell badge I want to avoid this in the parking lot.

[Cru Jones @ Jan 9th 2008 3:36PM]

It's really a shame that going "green" means you have to drive an ugly car (at least at the present time it does). I hope this changes very soon. No offense to the owners but Prius's make me want to throw up.

[clicclic @ Jan 9th 2008 3:49PM]

ALL alternative fuel technologies will cost as much as gasoline (in price or BTU equivalent) for as long as gasoline is sold in stores.

Don't fool yourself: there will never be any sort of discount associated with alternative fuels.

Unless you can manage to make it yourself...

[Bill @ Jan 9th 2008 4:21PM]

Yeah, you'll refueling at stations that reform natural gas to hydrogen, releasing CO2 in the pricess.

What, you thought the hydrogen came from renewable resources?

Silly boy.

[Ed @ Jan 10th 2008 4:05AM]

This will never reach the market in anyone's lifetimes.

American Auto Manufacturers are the little bitches of the Energy Barons.

They will TALK about it forever, but it takes foreign companies to actually release one. Toyota had the Prius on the streets since the early 90's. They just did not get to the US till the 00's.

There is too much corruption and money at stake to have US manufacturers push the technology that hard. Won't happen. Till that magical day when they start doing it, say in 2050, keep buying foreign hybrid cars.