Hydrogen, Hybrids Highlight GM Albany/Troy-Area Tech Tour

Participants To Drive Current Examples Of Fuel-Saving, Advanced Technologies

Troy, N.Y. - During a two-day Tech Tour stop beginning today, state lawmakers, regulators, educators and environmentalists will drive a broad portfolio of General Motors cars and trucks - including the Hy-wire fuel cell vehicle - that reduce emissions and improve efficiency.

The tour, at Hudson Valley Community College, comes just two weeks after GM achieved two very significant fuel cell milestones - introduction of a hydrogen fuel cell demonstration fleet in Washington, D.C., and an energy deal with Dow Chemical Co. that is the world's largest fuel cell transaction to date.

"We want to share GM's vision for a hydrogen economy and our plan for getting there," said Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice-president, environment and energy. "Fuel cells will help us realize the day when our vehicles and our facilities produce zero emissions, and they will help ensure the long-term health of our business."

"GM's fuel cell research and development center in Honeoye Falls, N.Y., is playing a key role in making this happen. We've made tremendous progress on both fuel cell vehicles and on developing strategic partnerships that will help us address crucial hydrogen infrastructure and refueling issues."

At the Hudson Valley campus, Tech Tour participants will learn about GM's fuel cell and other advanced technologies from Lowery and Daniel O'Connell, a GM fuel cell executive based in Honeoye Falls.

In addition to the Hy-wire, the world's first driveable fuel cell vehicle with by-wire technology, Tech Tour participants will drive the HydroGen2, an earlier version of a fuel cell vehicle.

And, because educating the future users of fuel cell technology is a priority for GM, it will host a group of middle-school science students at a special Tech Tour for Students on Wednesday.

However, fuel cells aren't the only stars of the show. Engineers and other technical experts will be on hand to demonstrate efficient, fuel-saving technologies such as gas-electric hybrids, Displacement on Demand, continuously variable transmissions, alternative fuel vehicles, clean diesels and others.

Displacement on Demand allows a vehicle to run on half its cylinders when full power is not needed. When engine loads demand full power, the system shifts seamlessly without any input from the driver and without any compromise in vehicle performance. GM announced earlier this month that Displacement on Demand will appear first on the 2005 model year GMC Envoy XL and Envoy XUV; and on the Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT sport-utility vehicles. By 2008, more than 2 million GM vehicles with V8 and V6 engines will have this feature, which boosts engine efficiency by about 8 percent (based on the EPA testing procedure).

"Until we can produce fuel cells in large numbers, technologies such as Displacement on Demand, along with our comprehensive hybrid technology plan, form the bridge that will take us to a hydrogen economy," said Lowery.

GM is offering the broadest gas-electric hybrid propulsion program in the industry, with three different hybrid systems on three vehicle architectures, representing more than a dozen of its most popular models. Included in the Tech Tour is a Flex Power hybrid truck that will debut this year, along with a compact sport utility hybrid equipped with a belt alternator starter system. This system improves efficiency in stop-and-go driving by shutting off the engine at idle mode and enabling early fuel cutoff to the engine during decelerations.

"We believe Tech Tour participants will see how GM is using its history of technology and powertrain leadership to reduce vehicle emissions and improve efficiency," said Lowery. "GM is serious about making hydrogen the ultimate answer to our long-term transportation needs."

General Motors Corp. , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs 342,000 people globally in its core automotive business and subsidiaries. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in more than 190 countries. In 2002, GM sold more than 8.6 million cars and trucks, nearly 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer website at www.gm.com.