General Motors (GM) announced in South Africa on Friday (31st October) that it is set to launch a new fuel cell vehicle.

The US company unveiled the Cadillac Provoq - which uses a lithium-ion battery that gives it a range of 500km on a 6km hydrogen tank - at the Johannesburg International Motor Show.

However, visiting Vice-President of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy Beth Lowery has explained that the vehicle will not be coming off the production line in the near future.

She told Engineering News: "At the moment, it is only a concept vehicle and nothing more."

GM is ramping up its efforts to develop alternative fuel technology cars and is set to commence mass production of its Volt electric (plug-in-and-drive) vehicle in 2010.

However, the vehicle will not be arriving in South Africa when it is initially rolled out as the country's ability to provide a recharging infrastructure and some form of subsidy is in doubt.

This is mainly due to the ongoing effects of electricity supplier Eskom's power issues, which saw mines across the country suffer a four-day outage in January.

The Cadillac Provoq can reach a speed of 100km/h in 8.5 seconds and is also capable of hitting a top speed of 160km/h.



Source:

GMSA unveils hydrogen-powered Cadillac Provoq concept car in SA (31/10/08)
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=146540

CADDY AND CHEV SHARING THE FUTURE WITH SA (31/10/08)
http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4689581&fSectionId=3667&fSetId=381