GM Plans Fuel-Cell-Powered Generator For Stationary Use in Homes and Offices

August 8, 2001

By JOSEPH B. WHITE Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

General Motors Corp. said it is developing a stationary fuel-cell-powered electric generator that could be used to power homes and offices, and a senior company executive suggested that GM could try to develop such a system commercially. Larry Burns, GM vice president for research and development, speaking at an industry conference in Traverse City, Mich., wouldn't commit to a time frame for offering the units commercially, but he said a stationary unit, which could be fueled by natural gas, would probably become available sooner than would a fuel-cell-powered automobile. GM executives have said their goal is to develop commercially viable fuel-cell-powered vehicles for sale to consumers by 2010.

GM and other auto makers, including Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG, Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., all are pursuing fuel-cell research in response to pressures to reduce pollution and global-warming gases emitted by gasoline-powered internal combustion engines. But GM and its rivals say fuel-cell-propulsion systems for vehicles are still too expensive for regular commercial sale. Fuel-cell systems extract hydrogen from a fuel, such as gasoline or methanol, and combine the hydrogen with oxygen to generate electricity. Mr. Burns said GM's gasoline fuel-cell system would get 50% better fuel economy than a conventional internal combustion engine. GM showed off at the industry conference a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck powered by a prototype fuel-cell system that runs on gasoline. Mr. Burns said the small pickup is the first drivable vehicle with a gasoline fuel-cell processor system but would cost three to 10 times more than a conventionally powered truck.

GM's announcements are the latest in a public-relations campaign to demonstrate that the company is serious about developing fuel cells as green alternatives to conventional internal combustion engines, even as the company lobbies in Washington against proposals for more stringent fuel-economy targets for conventional light-truck models. Mr. Burns said GM could benefit from developing stationary fuel-cell technology because it would generate some revenue to offset high research costs and allow GM and its suppliers to learn how to put fuel cells into high-volume production. Mr. Burns said GM has been approached by "several companies" about its stationary generation system.