General Motors has long been on the cutting edge of technological advance, and the new Chevy Colorado ZH2 Fuel Cell Mid-size Truck is just the latest example of technological excellence coming from the company that has also offered premium off-roading powerhouse trucks like the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor and fifty years of performance-optimized Camaro style. Keep reading to learn more about a possible Chevy Colorado ZH2 release date and some of the advantages of this great truck.
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Possible Chevy Colorado ZH2 Release Date
The Chevy Colorado ZH2 is an experimental fuel-cell powered truck that will be going into testing with the U.S. Army next year. Fuel cell technology offers multiple advantages over traditionional fuels and even electric vehicles: they are quiet, extremely long lasting, and also good for the environment.
The military will share information about the performance of the Chevy Colorado ZH2 with GM and Chevy so that those companies can work on improving the performance of automotive fuel cell technology for military and civilian markets. We don’t have a concrete estimated release date for A civilian fuel-cell truck, but we are hoping to see one on the road for at least limited audiences in the next five years.
Chevy Colorado ZH2 Design and Advantages
Build on a modified mid-size chassis, the Chevy Colorado ZH2 stands over 6.5 feet tall and seven feet wide, and features a reinforced structure with an off-road optimized suspension and 37-inch tires. This experimental truck is designed to go anywhere and do anything.
We don’t have specs yet on the hydrogen fuel cell technology in this modified Chevy Colorado truck, but we know that there are plenty of advantages to hydrogen fuel use. The Army will be judging this experimental vehicle according to its quietness, reduced thermal and acoustic signature, constantly available high wheel torque, low fuel consumption, and minimal emissions.
That last can also be good news for the environment if and when fuel cell technology enters the mainstream automotive industry. While creating hydrogen can require power, the only by-product of burning it is water.
“The Colorado ZH2 is a terrific example of GM’s engineering and design skill in creating an off-road vehicle relevant to a range of potential users,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM Global Fuel Cell Activities. “Over the next year, we expect to learn from the Army the limits of what a fuel cell propulsion system can do when really put to the test.”
Keep watching this blog for other innovations coming out of General Motors and Chevy, as well as advances coming out of our Ford, Hyundai, Genesis, and Volkswagen brands (like a possible electric Ford F-150?). You can also contact Broadway Automotive directly for any questions about our current hybrid and fuel-efficient inventory.
