GM Hy-wire

Fifteen years ago, hardly anyone had a mobile phone. Now you can't go more than five metres without a ring tone offending your ears. That's the kind of growth car makers expect for fuel cell vehicles - there aren't any around at the moment, but they're coming our way quickly.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Richard Yarrow

December 2002

Fifteen years ago, hardly anyone had a mobile phone. Now you can't go more than five metres without a ring tone offending your ears. That's the kind of growth car makers expect for fuel cell vehicles - there aren't any around at the moment, but they're coming our way quickly.

General Motors unveiled its vision of the future at September's Paris Motor Show. Called the Hy-wire, it's powered by hydrogen with a fuel cell at the rear, and compressed hydrogen gas is stored in tanks hidden under the bodyshell. The hydrogen is then converted into electricity, which provides energy for the motor. The only waste product is water, which comes out of the exhaust as steam.

GM has put the technology in a Zafira bodyshell before, but bosses know that using a hydrogen powerplant in a traditional car isn't exploiting the design benefits that fuel cells will bring. They also believe people won't buy the cars unless they offer something extra and different.

Enter the Hy-wire, which removes the need for an engine bay, foot pedals, steering wheel, mirrors and just about everything else you associate with cars today. That's because it has 'by-wire' technology, like you find in aeroplanes. There are no mechanical links between the steering, brakes and suspension, with everything being governed by microchips.

With concept cars generally des-igned for image over function, sliding behind the wheel isn't easy. But once you're in, the innovation really hits you. There's no need for the traditional en-gine/cabin/boot layout, because all the technology is contained in a 27cm thick chassis. That means you can do virtually anything with the interior; with the Hy-wire it's a five-seat, four-door saloon, but it could just as easily be a coupί¿½ or a roadster.

The steering panel slides in front of you, and can make the car left or right-hand drive. You push D on the centre console, twist the handgrip away from you and the car speeds off briskly. To brake, you squeeze the hand-grip. Steering is done in the usual way, but the 'wheel' only turns 20 degrees to the left or right. It seems odd at first, but you soon get the hang of it.

Is this the future? GM puts a convincing case, and maybe fuel cell cars will be as common as mobile phones one day. Electronics giant Sony is already reported to be working on a fuel cell-powered mobile!

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