"Project Driveway is a terrific way for us to bring fuel cell vehicles to people, and the program is incredible," Peper says. "We have done what no other competitor has done... driven a half-million miles with zero petroleum and leaving a carbon footprint of zero."
The Project Driveway program began in October 2007 and will run through the end of 2010. Project Driveway puts Equinox electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells into the hands of drivers to gain real world experience and learning. More than 3,400 individuals have driven the fuel cell Equinox; either in short drives at media programs or special events, or as part of longer loan.
"The vehicles are performing very well and we are learning a great deal about fuel cell robustness and how to make this program work for real customers," says Marybeth Stanek, GM's director of fuel cell commercialization. "The amount of data we've collected over the past year is very valuable to us, and gives us insight into this important automotive technology."
Prior to Project Driveway, no one has ever put 100-plus fuel cell vehicles on the road. The program is mainly in the U.S., although some vehicles were sent to Europe and Asia. In the U.S., the vehicles are being placed with media, public policy leaders, business partners, celebrities and "regular" customers who have raised their hands via the internet.
Drivers generally have the vehicles for two months, although some placements, such as those with business partners Disney and Virgin Atlantic, run for the entire program. Jay Leno has been driving a fuel cell Equinox since April.
The vehicles are production Chevrolet Equinoxes, outfitted with GM's fourth-generation fuel cell propulsion system. They meet all applicable U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and are equipped with a long list of safety and convenience features.
