1964

Conducted first fuel cell testing.

1968

Produced auto industry’s first operational fuel cell-powered vehicle.

1995

Giner Stack Development Program initiated.

1996

GM/Exxon/Arco R&D Agreement signed.

Mar 1997

Unveiled Opel experimental fuel cell vehicle at Geneva International Motor Show.

1998

Signed agreement with Exxon Mobil to conduct collaborative research on hardware and fuel options for advanced vehicles.

1998

Established Global Alternative Propulsion Center with facilities in Mainz-Kastel, Germany; Warren, Michigan, USA; and Honeoye Falls, New York, USA.

Sept. 1998

Introduced first driveable fuel cell concept (Opel Zafira minivan) at Paris Motor Show.

April 1999

Signed five-year technical agreement with Toyota to develop advanced vehicle technologies, including fuel cells.

Jan. 2000

Unveiled Precept FCEV, fuel cell electric vehicle and PNGV demonstrator, at North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, USA. (Designed to achieve 108 m.p.g. gasoline equivalent.)

Mar 2000

Introduced Opel Zafira demonstration car, with industry’s most advanced operational automotive fuel cell stack, at Geneva International Motor Show.

May 2000

Created Giner Electrochemical Systems (GES) with Giner, Inc. to perform fuel cell research and development. (Giner is the leader in PEM-based technologies.)

Aug 2000

Announced development of highly-efficient gasoline fuel processor for fuel cell vehicles with Exxon Mobil.

Sept. 2000

HydroGen1, fuel cell vehicle based on Opel Zafira compact van, served as pace car for the men’s and women’s marathons at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Oct 2000

Joined California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) to advance state of fuel cell technology.

Nov. 2000

Announced breakthrough catalyst system with current generation gasoline fuel processor at more than 80 percent efficiency.

Jan. 2001

Announced with Toyota progress on multi-year technology agreement and combining research on fuels for fuel cells and fuel infrastructure with Exxon Mobil.

Mar 2001

Announced that GM has entered into discussions with QUANTUM Technologies to establish a business relationship.

Mar 2001

Released comprehensive study by GM, Argonne National Laboratory, BP, Exxon Mobil, and Shell showing that hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles offer the cleanest and most efficient combination of fuel and propulsion system in long-term.

May 2001

Set 11 endurance records for fuel cell-powered vehicles by HydroGen1 at GM’s Mesa, Arizona Proving Grounds. HydroGen1 completed 862 miles in 24-hour endurance run.

June 2001

Announced substantial minority ownership position in QUANTUM Technologies to develop hydrogen handling and electronic control technologies for fuel cell applications. QUANTUM is recognized as industry leader in hydrogen storage and handling in automotive applications.

June 2001

Announced 25-year collaboration with General Hydrogen to accelerate the spread of a hydrogen infrastructure and to speed introduction of fuel cell vehicles into North America, Europe, Asia and emerging markets.

Aug 2001

Unveiled Gen III, world’s first gasoline fuel processor for fuel cell propulsion, at U of M’s Traverse City Automotive Management Seminar. Gen III has the capacity to start in less than three minutes.

Aug 2001

Unveiled Chevrolet S-10 pickup demonstrator featuring GM’s Stack 2000 at U of M’s Traverse City Automotive Management Seminar. (Stack 2000 generates electricity and has 25 percent higher power density than GM’s Stack used at Mesa endurance trials in May 2001.)

Aug 2001

Showcased fuel cell stationary power unit capable of supplying electricity to homes and businesses at U of M’s Traverse City Automotive Management Seminar.

Sept. 2001

Oct    2001

Announced that GM’s latest fuel cell stack sets new world standard for power density that packs 60% more power than any competitor. New stack generates 1.75 kilowatts (kW) per liter at the Grove Conference.

Announced strategic alliance with Hydrogenics Corporation to accelerate fuel cell development into global commercial markets. Alliance includes shared intellectual property rights and joint efforts in fuel cell product development, engineering, proto-typing, testing, branding and marketing.

Oct 2001

Announced expansion of fuel cell development activity with Giner, Inc. to include applications beyond the transportation field, including hydrogen generation for refueling systems and regenerative fuel cells for stationary power. 

GM Fuel Cell Technical Seminar attended by 150 media representatives at Tokyo Motor Show. Showcased HydroGen3, fuel cell vehicle.

Announced agreement with Suzuki Motor Corporation to collaborate on fuel cell vehicle development, focused on small cars.

Announced multi-year collaborative research agreement with Chevron

Texaco to advance fuel cell technology and gasoline processing for fuel cell vehicles. Agreement will accelerate GM’s efforts to offer a gasoline-fed fuel cell vehicle to retail customers.

Released “2000-01 Sustainability Report" which highlights GM’s efforts to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles with 300 experts working on two continents.

Participated in Michelin’s Bibendum Challenge showcasing the HydroGen1 fuel celled-vehicle and QUANTUM’s Tri-Shield hydrogen storage cylinder. Announced HydroGen1 was the only fuel cell-powered vehicle to finish Bibendum’s 350-kilometer course from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

Unveiled with Hydrogenics a prototype fuel cell unit that provides back-up power to cell towers during power outages. Once fully developed, GM partner Hydrogenics to market and field test the fuel cell unit with Nextel in first quarter of 2002.

Nov. 2001

Frank Colvin named as GM’s first vice president for Fuel Cell Activities.