The 1966 Electrovan Experimental Alternative Fuel Concept Vehicle

Today alternative powered cars are a big part of the automotive industry, but did you know that in 1966 General Motors developed an Electrovan Experimental? GM’s Electrovan was the world’s first known application of fuel cell technology in a vehicle. The Electrovan was an important step in moving towards the use of alternative power in vehicles.

The Electrovan was a converted GMC Handivan that showed electric propulsion with fuel cell was possible and was credited as being the first hydrogen fuel cell ever produced. General Motors was the first company to use a fuel cell to power a vehicle (fuel cells have been around since early 1800’s).

The fuel cell power-plant was able to supply a continuous output of approximately 32 kw with a peak of 160 kw, it had 32 thin electrode fuel cell modules that were connected in series. The Electrovan was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 30 seconds with a range of about 150 miles. GM had concerns about the safety of the Electrovan so the vehicle was only driven on company property.

GM chose to mount the motor and control system between and under the two front seats and the 32 fuel cell modules were located under the floor, there were about 550 feet of plastic piping. Mounted behind the middle bench seat were cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen tanks and an electrolyte reservoir that weighed 550lbs making the total weight of the van 7,100lbs.   

The Electrovan project was scrapped just after GM showed it off to journalist in 1966. The Electrovan was just too costly to produce just the Platinum alone used in the fuel cell cost as much as the purchase price of an entire fleet of vans.