General Motors' (GM) latest fuel cell stack is a considerable improvement on its predecessor, according to a new report on treehugger.com on Monday (17th August).

The fifth-generation design by the Detroit giant offers 93kW of output and also requires lower amounts of expensive platinum components in order to function successfully.

This lower cost to the consumer is identified by the news provider as the most significant advance, particularly with a further reduction in the pipeline for the sixth generation.

It noted: "GM engineers have reduced the amount of expensive platinum used by more than 50 per cent, from about 80g in the fourth-generation stack to about 30g in the fifth.

"GM's roadmap also aims for a … goal of bringing the total used under 10g per fuel cell stack."

Treehugger.com also highlights the fact that production of the fifth generation should be able to hit 10,000 units per year in 2015, in comparison with 500 for its predecessor.

Furthermore, it explains that the fuel cells are now more robust after going through exhaustive tests and could be able to last for up to 120,000 miles from 2015 onwards.

GM was recently bailed out by the US Treasury after hastily filing for bankruptcy as the recent slump in the auto industry began to take its toll on the company.

Source:

GM Shrinks its Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Makes it Cheaper, More Durable (17/08/09)

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