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GM Sequel Concept
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Fuel Cells, the GM Sequel Concept Car is GM’s
take on the future of the SUV market. The
car itself shares the same “future”
look of many of the 2005 era concept cars…
egg shaped with a blunt front end mounted
on a set of huge tires. GM has invested a
lot in their “skateboard chassis”,
which relegates the propulsion of the car
to a relatively small and thin 11-inch tall
“skateboard” that comprises the
entire bottom of the body of the car.
This “skateboard”
design is being touted by companies like GM
as “the end of oil changes”, and
many people imagine that in the future one
could swap either the propulsion system or
the body independently of one another. The
chassis can actually be operated completely
independently, and would connect tot eh rest
of the car through a swappable user interface
called a “drive by wire”. This
is similar to “fly by wire” technologies
that reside in high technology items like
fighter jets. GM is also quick to mention
that the car won’t compromise performance
or comfort, two of the most important factors
in the automobile market.
Of course the Sequel Concept won’t see
the common commercial market for some time.
Optimistic reports on the internet say that
a vehicle similar to the Sequel will be available
as soon as 2009, which seems a little crazy;
one would imagine that it will take a lot
longer for our society’s fuel companies
to install liquid hydrogen stations in common
locations. With a honest but unimpressive
300mile range the Sequel concept will need
a little of help getting from place to place.
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