GM Hydrogen Car Crash Is Total Loss But No One Hurt

I get tired of the Chicken Little’s of the world or the advocates of other alternative fuel vehicles comparing hydrogen cars to the Hindenburg. The Hindenburg fallacy I’ve addressed on the website, blog and in numerous emails ad nauseam.

Numerous manufacturers including GM and Honda have put their cars through extensive crash tests to make sure no explosions will occur. This has once again been validated by GM in real world situations.

Since members of Project Driveway have been behind the wheel of Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell SUVs there have been five car crashes to date. The hydrogen fuel cell Equinox pictured is a total loss yet no one was hurt.

According to GM spokesman Alan Adler, “The vehicle was being driven in traffic at low speed when it was struck from behind by a full-size pickup which forced the fuel-cell vehicle forward into another pickup. No hydrogen was released and no one was injured.

“The vehicle was extensively damaged on both front and rear ends and later declared a total loss. A vehicle data analysis indicates that the vehicle and controls operated as designed. The vehicle was on a short-term loan to a military consultant.”

Unlike gasoline which will pool around the base of the vehicle as it burns, hydrogen fuel will rise quickly and burn upwards. Leave the dramatic explosions for the movies and for vehicles using gasoline. The cars, trucks, SUV, buses, trains, planes, boats, ships, submarines and other vehicles using hydrogen fuel will be far less dramatic during accidents.

People tend to fear what they don’t understand. Even though hydrogen needs to be handled with care, it’s not as dramatic to deal with as are other types of fuels. In fact, it can be quite underwhelming.