May 15, 2002

Top Award for Revolutionary Fuel Cell Concept

AUTOnomy: "Engine of the Year"

International Jury Honors Opel and GM engineers

Stuttgart. High praise for AUTOnomy, the fuel cell concept car developed by General Motors' and Opel's joint Global Alternative Propulsion Center (GAPC): An international jury of 41 motor journalists from around the world distinguished this car with the "Engine of the Year" award in its "Best Concept" category today. The title awarded yearly by the renowned English publication "Engine Technology International" is perceived as the "Oscar" for propulsion technology.

Graham Johnson, jury president and editor of the publication, said today at the prize giving ceremony at the exhibition "Engine Expo 2002" in Stuttgart (Germany): "At last a purpose-design fuel cell car. AUTOnomy shows that the space-age propulsion system can be attractive". This was the second time in a row a General Motors concept was recognized by the jury; last year the award was given to the SVC engine with variable compression developed by Sweden's Saab.

While receiving the trophy Chris Borroni-Bird, AUTOnomy project leader, thanked the jury members who publish in Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe by saying: "This award recognizes our leading role in developing this environmental friendly propulsion concept.
I am here to receive this award on behalf of all my 400 colleagues at GAPC. At our research facilities in Warren and Rochester (USA) as well as Mainz-Kastel (Germany) we are working with power and passion to turn these concepts into realities on the road. Therefore, by the end of this decade you can expect fuel cell cars from us that are both affordable for our customers and economically viable for General Motors – provided there is a fuel infrastructure by then."

The GM concept vehicle AUTOnomy is the first in the world to be built from the ground up around the fuel cell propulsion system. One essential element of this new construction philosophy is the implementation of "drive-by-wire" engineering which features electronic instead of mechanical control of steering, braking and other vehicle functions. The constructive core of the "AUTOnomy" (length/width/height: 4465/1880/1247 mm), which was first introduced to the public at the Detroit Motor Show this year, is a completely new chassis, on which essential components, including the fuel cell stack and on-board hydrogen storage system, are neatly packaged. This "skateboard" chassis can accommodate a variety of body styles, making it possible to create a broad range of vehicles.

On the road from laboratory to serial production, the scientists and engineers at GAPC have already set numerous milestones. Examples include15 world speed and distance records for fuel cell vehicles achieved last year on GM's desert proving ground in Mesa, Arizona, by HydroGen1, a prototype based on Opel's Zafira compact van. The success of this concept car at the "Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2001", an international competition for environmentally friendly cars, was equally impressive: HydroGen1 was the only fuel cell vehicle to complete the 350 kilometer drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.