DOE Takes Delivery of Chevy Equinox Electric Vehicle Powered by Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Federal Agency to participate in the World's First Large-Scale Market Test of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles

WASHINGTON, D.C. 2008-05-27 -- With the addition of a Chevy Equinox fuel cell electric vehicle to its fleet of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today joined the team of pioneers - from regular families to media, celebrities and businesses - helping to make fuel cell vehicles a reality.

Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

For the next six months, DOE employees will use the Chevy Equinox electric vehicle to conduct day-to-day business while sharing real-world performance data. The initiative is part of Chevrolet's "Project Driveway," an innovative market test that is helping bring fuel cell electric vehicle technology to market.

Project Driveway is an important facet of Chevrolet's "Gas Friendly to Gas Free" strategy to offer advanced technologies that enable a variety of fuel solutions and remove the automobile from the environment and energy equation. It places more than 100 Chevy Equinox electric vehicles powered by hydrogen in the hands of a variety of drivers in Southern California, Metropolitan New York and Washington, DC. The vehicle uses no petroleum and zero greenhouse gases are released. The only emission is clean water vapor.

"We're pleased to have the DOE join in this important endeavor to speed advanced technologies to consumers," said Cheryl Catton, general director, Chevrolet Marketing. "The DOE's participation illustrates the value of industry and government working together to provide solutions to our nation's energy issues. The findings from all of our Project Driveway participants will help us define our product and market introduction plans for fuel cell electric vehicles."

View more images in the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Photo Gallery.

In addition to test drives with key business partners, government agencies, influencers and media, the general public can volunteer to participate in Project Driveway by logging on to Chevy's Fuel Solutions site at chevy.com. Since the program's launch in Fall of 2007, nearly 62,000 consumers have volunteered. Over the next two years, public drivers chosen from the website community will participate for two-three months and provide feedback on the vehicle's performance in exchange for free fuel, insurance and the use of the vehicle.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at gm.com.

Source: GM

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