9/29/09

GM Fuel Cell Prototype Featured at Career Day

GM Fuel Cell AutoPhoto: Kneeling left to right are Banks Chevrolet Service Manager, Rick Gauthier (Concord); GM Fixed Operations Manager, Dennis McConnell (Monkton, VT); Lakes Region Community College General Motors Automotive Service Education Program (GM-ASEP) Department Head, Mike Parker (N. Sandwich); NH Juvenile Justice Service Teacher, Bob Stephen (Manchester); and LRCC GM-ASEP Professor, Jamie Decato (Belmont). Standing left to right are LRCC GM-ASEP Administrative Assistant, Nancy Marcoux (Gilford); Cantin Chevrolet Service Manager, Steve Hurst (Alton); LRCC President, Mark Edelstein (Laconia); LRCC GM-ASEP Adjunct Professor, Dave Perkins (Center Harbor); Benson Auto Service Manager, Ken Lind (Franklin); and Ron Currier’s Hilltop Chevrolet Service Manager, King Sanborn (Somersworth).

LRCC’s GM-ASEP Advisory Committee is pictured in front of GM’s hydrogen fuel cell Chevrolet Equinox prototype that arrived Thursday from GM’s Training Center in Ardsley, NY. The Equinox’s fuel cell uses hydrogen to create electricity which will run the electric motor and charge the battery. The only emissions are wisps of water vapor. This Equinox and about 100 just like it are part of the world’s largest consumer fuel cell demonstration being conducted by General Motors called "Project Driveway." Through "Project Driveway" average consumers in key areas of the country can experience the technology by driving the vehicle for two months. In return they will provide valuable feedback to GM’s team of engineers. "Project Driveway" recently reached the milestone of accumulating one million miles of emissions- free driving. Five thousand people have participated in "Project Driveway" and 50,000 gallons of fuel have been saved since the program began in November 2007.

The Equinox was one of the "green" automobiles featured at Career Day on Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. More than nine hundred high school automotive students came to view the latest in automotive transportation. The goal of the event, sponsored by New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association (NHADA) and Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH), was to showcase technology and promote the quality automotive education programs that are available in NH. Representatives from the CCSNH automotive programs, NHADA, and area dealerships were on hand to answer questions and provide information about career opportunities in the automotive field.

"The vehicles designed and built by GM’s Fuel Cell Activities group represent the future of transportation technology," says Parker. "I am pleased to be able to share the latest in automotive technology with our students and equally pleased to be associated with General Motors, a company with demonstrated leadership in a long history of technological breakthroughs."