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General Motors to Triple Fuel Cell Vehicle Test Fleet

January 27, 2005 by Jeff Shepard

General Motors Corp. (GM, Detroit, MI) announced that it plans to triple its test fleet of fuel-cell-powered vehicles next year as part of plans to commercialize alternative fuel vehicles. The automaker hopes to operate a fleet of 40 fuel cell vehicles, powered by hydrogen, by 2008 under a research program sponsored by the US Department of Energy.

The 13 new vehicles, based on the company's HydroGen 3 fuel cell car, will arrive in New York in 2006. GM is currently testing six fuel cell vehicles in Washington, DC. Some of the vehicles will be tested in Detroit. GM wants to develop a commercially viable fuel cell vehicle by 2010. GM and Shell are adding a hydrogen refueling station in New York City to establish an "East Coast Hydrogen Corridor." Shell operates a hydrogen station in Washington, DC, and plans to add a third station between the nation's capital and New York to complete the corridor.