GM Shows Off New Fuel-Cell Truck Platform
By Aaron Bragman
GM has unveiled a new fuel-cell platform specifically designed to be a flexible chassis that can serve both commercial and military needs for a versatile zero-emissions truck. The Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure is a reconfigurable chassis that has GM's second-generation hydrogen fuel-cell system integrated into the structure, and it's able to be configured for a variety of light, medium or heavy-duty uses as needed.
GM says that the flexibility provided by such an integrated machine is significant, with the company able to easily adapt the system to be a utility truck, heavy commercial freight hauler, light- or medium-duty truck, or even a specific military application as needed. Given the SURUS' Hydrotec fuel-cell system, it can also be used as a mobile power generator to provide electricity as needed in remote locations, with the benefit of doing it far more quietly and with far fewer gas and heat emissions than a diesel generator.
The SURUS leverages several aspects of GM's big trucks integrated into a new application. The platform features two electric drive units, four-wheel steering, a lithium-ion battery and enough on-board hydrogen storage to give a truck up to 400 miles of range. It uses GM's existing truck chassis components, including the suspension, to create an all-terrain vehicle that can serve as everything from a light-duty truck to an autonomous battlefield ambulance.
The truck will be shown at the fall meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army Oct. 9-11 as a possible military platform. The idea is to use it and reduce needed manpower in dangerous situations by using the platform's built-in autonomous driving systems. GM envisions a train of vehicles slaved to each other that can be used for delivery purposes over hostile terrain using a lead-and-follow program.
The SURUS is a follow-up to the Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 fuel-cell-powered pickup that GM unveiled at this event last year and which has been undergoing testing with the U.S. Army since April. GM says that the testing has thus far gone well, with the Army enjoying the ZH2's significantly quieter operation versus a diesel equivalent, enabling it to get much closer to targets without being detected.
Manufacturer images
Comments
Does it have any cameras?
The Pentagon today is being run by Clinton, Bush and Obama era college professors.
So many real GI-style grunts were seriously offended at serving under guys like Clinton and Obama who do not really understand the military tradition in this country (or they reject it altogether).
There were other career soldiers who were annoyed that GW Bush served in a part of the service where he could avoid combat and fly jets on weekends.
Result? Now we have people in the military making strategic decisions based on silly EPA, CAFE green-tech concerns instead of blowing up bad guys.
Fuel cells? America's troops wiped out the Nazi's in less than five years and there wasn't a single fuel cell involved.
Papajim,
Better to be run under some one of a reasonable intelligence than by a PresidenT rump
This sure sounds like cool technology for a military environment. I still prefer the good old V8 internal combustion engine for my vehicles. What I find frustrating is that the internal combustion engine has still not reached its full potential. There are still technologies that can greatly improve performance and economy. One such technology would be the application of camless engines. It appears however, that the manufactures have moved onto developing electric propulsion technologies to appease the green movement.
@Mr Moose
You don't have to respect my opinion.
I just wrote some thoughts that I think are on target, and you replied with something that was borderline illiterate.
You might want to consider taking some reflection before you speak if you plan to be disrespectful of our president.
PapaJim,
When his own secretary of state calls him an F----n moron, I think my comments are a compliment.
@Mr Moose
you should be more careful about believing the crap in the mainstream media.
I'm always surprised at the people who seem to swallow that stuff without any insight into the agenda those people have. They are not your friend.
@Mr Moose
you should be more careful about believing the crap in the mainstream media.
I'm always surprised at the people who seem to swallow that stuff without any insight into the agenda those people have. They are not your friend.
Its not military grade, so it will never take off. Papa is watching CNN as we speak and believing every word they say.
I think my comments are a compliment. Posted by: Mr Moose | Oct 6, 2017
@Mr Moose
Next time you feel like disrespecting our current president, take a look at your 401-k account (assuming you have one) and tell me he's a dope. If you're like most people the balance on your account has gone through the roof since last November.
papa Jim, we are still running on Obama policy , takes two years for new pres. policy change to impact.
@canoepaddler
Still smoking that stuff?
I remember thinking back in the 2008 campaign that stocks starting really heading down as soon as it became obvious that a leftist Ivy League professor was sure to win the White House in the fall.
In November 2016 when it was clear that a confirmed leftist Ivy League-er (does Wellesley count?) wasn't going to make a return trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, stocks went wild.
We disagree
Where are they putting spare tire??
That thing is wild. Look it even has the corner steps. Lol
Light years ahead of Fords crap.
Call me a cynic, but does anyone else think a vehicle powered by HYDROGEN going into an environment full of bombs and bullets might be a bad idea? I know fuel cells are supposed to be safe, but it still makes me nervous. I mean, didn't the military switch from gas to diesel partly because diesel doesn't go boom like gas? Even if the system is ridiculously over engineered and totally safe, the autonomous feature worries me. Only a matter of time before somebody hacks one, rigs the fuel cell, and sends it back as a Trojan horse.
Yeah, the idea would be bette with some big alternators being turned by Diesel engines.
The “stocks better because of Obama policies lingering” idea is laughable. No one in the media said that the economy was going in the crapper right after George W. took office due to Slick Willy! Hahaha. The left likes to constantly tell themselves how much smarter they are, but it is obvious to everyone that their logic does not ever universalize. Logic has a check valve for them. Does it favor them? Smart! Logic doesn’t favor? That is stupid. You just do not understand the nuances of the position! You need to excercise your mind so you can do mental gymnastics!! (They say)
yes Papa Jim we disagree. Puddycat is close to the idea of when things began.
I remember thinking back in the 2008 campaign that stocks starting really heading down as soon as it became obvious that a leftist Ivy League professor was sure to win the White House in the fall.
Posted by: papajim | Oct 6, 2017 3:18:04 PM
I guess the housing crisis, bankruptcy of lehman brothers and job loses of 500,000 to 800,000 a month all occuring under the watchful eye of the then Republican administration had nothing to do with stocks falling.
I guess the housing crisis, bankruptcy of lehman brothers and job loses of 500,000 to 800,000 a month all occuring under the watchful eye of the then Republican administration had nothing to do with stocks falling. Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Oct 6, 2017
@GMSRGREAT
You might want to read about stocks, instead of relying on the mainstream media for your information.
1. Home prices came down back in 2007 & 2008. Housing Crisis? It simply means that somebody wanting to buy a house can buy one for less dough. When gasoline prices come down do you call it a Gas Crisis?
2. Lehman Bros is a story about people bundling debt securities in a way that concealed the true nature of the assets. Tell me how a Democrat would have stopped them.
3. Unemployment, as in 2008, and market corrections exist to get rid of bad ideas. Otherwise companies like Saturn, Hummer and Mercury would go on indefinitely. The strong eat the weak. Tell me how a Democrat would change that.
Add the tech bust and easy home mortgages to the causes of the 2008 Economic Bust. Home loans were approved at more than market value and homeowners were using the extra money for vacations and buying flat screen tvs and expensive vehicles. Also there were loans given to those who would not have qualified otherwise. These mortgages were packaged as investments with nothing to back them up but debt. Hopefully we will not experience another crisis in the future with auto loans. This discussion is off topic but the hydrogen fuel cell is more about a Government grant or contract and less about the average consumer.
You might want to read about stocks, instead of relying on the mainstream media for your information....
Posted by: papajim | Oct 7, 2017 6:59:20 AM
Papa, I'm a realist, I remember what happened. Millions of people who should have never been approved for a home mortgage were left with nothing. With the current administration's agenda to deregulate, expect 2008 again.
Gentlemen, you are both referring to cycles that naturally exist in the market for debt and equity. I'm still waiting for one of you to tell me how Democrats would have made it better.
In fact, back when Janet Reno was Bill Clinton's AG, she actually threatened banks with federal lawsuits if they did NOT make trash loans on home mortgages.
All of her key assistants like Jamie Gorelick and Eric Holder went to work getting huge paychecks at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after Bush was sworn in.
So, please. I'm still waiting. How would Democrats would have made this better?
@papajim: I am no more leftist then I am rightist. As I stated earlier, i'm a realist. Your comment concerning stocks falling after it became obvious who was going into the white house, is completely inaccurate. In fact, this is the problem with fake news, and you just contributed to it. Be sure to catch Fox for the latest.
this is the problem with fake news, and you just contributed to it. Be sure to catch Fox for the latest. Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Oct 7, 2017
@GMSRGREAT
You cannot win on the facts (you can't even seem to recite the facts) and you then resort to name-calling when your puny arguments fail.
For some reason you assume that someone whose arguments are superior to your own, watches Fox. What cartoons do you watch?
Over and out.
You cannot win on the facts .....
Posted by: papajim | Oct 7, 2017 1:48:50 PM
I already have.........Mike drop.
You know it's military grade when there are big "NO STEP" labels right on the bumpers.
Id show off too if I was receiving 78mil in grants just for "showing off" LOL line up boys to the welfare bowl... there is plenty to go around, spend spend ,there is no tomorrow, it cant be repaid so borrow and spend it while it lasts.... when it comes down it wont be worth owning so spend spend its all about to end.... spend spend.
Mike drop
@GMSRGREAT
The facts aren't on your side. Your view of the whole discussion sounds like the 1990s. The very idea that Dems are liberal and Republicans are conservative is VERY 1990s, just as your idea that Fox is conservative (cable TV is very 1980s)
I'm still waiting. How would Democrats would have made this better in 2008?
You can't.
Fox News is not Conservative except that their viewpoints are adverse to any change--Fox is more extreme Right. There are extreme Left and extreme Right but few politicians are in the middle. Most voters are in the middle. True MSNBC has some leftist views but Fox has some extreme right views. Getting back to the subject at hand it is unlikely that fuel cell technology will be in any vehicle sold to the general public. It would take a large investment in infrastructure to provide refueling of fuel cell powered vehicles. This article says nothing about the public having vehicles powered by hydrogen so this article would not effect the pickup truck owner.
How would Democrats would have made this better in 2008?
You can't.
Posted by: papajim | Oct 8, 2017 9:33:25 AM
Papajim : They did, compare the stock market when Obama took office to when he left. .......... stocks that I purchase in 2008 and 2009 have doubled, tripled, some have been 10 baggers.
Michelle Obama 2020
@GMSRGREAT
You can't win at market timing. Even the pro's don't do it very often. You can get lucky though, and you made money back in 2009 because you were buying stocks at a historical low in the market. You won the lotto.
Good!
The Dow Industrials bounced along at 16,000 or so for TWO bleeping years until November 2016.
When it became obvious that the economic suffering was over in the first week of November 2016 stocks took off and have gained Six Thousand points since then.
No sign of wavering.
Blah, blah, blah.
Posted by: papajim | Oct 8, 2017 1:57:32 PM
That's the Fox News version of what happened. Continue watching Fox News if you want to stay dumb. MSNBC is my channel.
True MSNBC has some leftist views (but is more independent), Fox has some extreme right views.
Posted by: Jeff S | Oct 8, 2017 9:33:25 AM
Right on, Jeff. I am an independent and get my news from independent sources, not the far right.
When it became obvious that the economic suffering was over in the first week of November 2016 stocks took off and have gained Six Thousand points since then.
No sign of wavering.
Posted by: papajim | Oct 8, 2017 1:57:32 PM
Did not the latest jobs report show the first monthly jobs loss in the last seven years?
@GMSRGREAT
Take a look at your 401-k
Case closed.
I'm still waiting. How would Democrats would have made this better in 2008?
You can't.
papajim = Fox News.
Fair and balanced.
gmsrgreat = CNN.
Fake News.
@GMSRGREAT
Take a look at your 401-k
Case closed.
Posted by: papajim | Oct 8, 2017 3:45:43 PM
I doubled my net worth from early 2009 through 2014.
papajim = Fox News.
Fair and balanced.
gmsrgreat = CNN.
Fake News.
Posted by: Ken | Oct 8, 2017 4:05:17 PM
Ken, i'm a realist. And yes, I do watch Fox News purely for entertainment .
@GMSRGREAT--I have listened to Fox News as well as CNN and the 3 networks. I use to listen to Bill O-Reilly before and don't disagree with everything Fox News does but they are more Extremist Right I am more of a pragmatist and don't buy into extreme positions on either the Left or the Right.
I am more of a pragmatist and don't buy into extreme positions on either the Left or the Right.
Posted by: Jeff S | Oct 8, 2017 6:12:57 PM
Extreme right and left political views ensure continued division among a country's population. I feel that both CNN and Fox news are pushing their respective views to their respective audiences. With respect to fake news, Fox News does it better.
Jeff S = NPR
Talks a lot but what comes out is mush, pretends to be independent but pushes a leftist agenda most of the time.
Fox News does it better. Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Oct 8, 2017
Ok for the final time.
What would Democrat policies in 2008 have done to prevent a Lehman meltdown, a Dow meltdown or a mass layoff of industrial workers and homebuilders?
You've been dodging this one because you don't have a sensible answer.
Ok for the final time.
What would Democrat policies in 2008 have done to prevent a Lehman meltdown, a Dow meltdown or a mass layoff of industrial workers and homebuilders?
You've been dodging this one because you don't have a sensible answer.
Posted by: papajim | Oct 8, 2017 7:26:55 PM
Well I have certainly confirmed that you are a consumer of Fox content. With respect to 2008 crisis, I believe that a democratic policy of "not" invading Iraq would have played out which would have led to the government paying much more attention to what was happening at home. Maybe implementing taxation and regulations which would have prevented financial institutions from making such risky adventures as played out with Lehman's.
You've been dodging this one because you don't have a sensible answer.
Posted by: papajim | Oct 8, 2017 7:26:55 PM
And you are Fox News aka the real Fake News.
Meanwhile back to trucks as last I checked this was a truck site & not a political forum;
This is another desperado smoke screen tactic from shaky GOVT motors to divert attention from the real issues with sales of their bread 'n buttery truck Silverado who's candy @$$ is getting kicked by Ford & Fiat; sales are down -1.6% to 418,950 while leading F-Series up +10.6% to 658,636 & Ram up +3.8% to 374,910.
With Silverado sales alone making almost 20% of GM's total vehicle sales, when they start dumping prices (again) with large incentives, a sure sign of desperado grabbing straws to try maintain their market share.
@Lionel: GM sells more trucks and is making truck loads of money. Ford? No so much!
With respect to 2008 crisis, I believe that a democratic policy of "not" invading Iraq would have played out...Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Oct 8, 2017
@GMSRGREAT
Is that the best you got? Did you forget that the Democrats controlled both Houses of Congress starting January 2007? They had been in control for almost two years before Obama was inaugurated in 2009.
Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi were in the driver's seat following the GOP losses in November 2006.
Democrats were in charge because George Bush did not have enough GOP votes in the Senate to block the Dems.
I can tell this is not your subject, is it?
I can tell this is not your subject, is it?
Posted by: papajim | Oct 8, 2017 8:38:37 PM
I can tell you don't want to stop planting seeds of misinformation so continue watching your FNN.
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