Chevrolet Sequel
Encyclopedia
The Chevrolet Sequel is a hybrid crossover SUV
concept vehicle developed by General Motors
and introduced at the 2005 North American International Auto Show
.
The Sequel is powered by a fuel cell
powertrain
, which includes an electronic control unit and a fourth-generation version of GM's fuel-cell stack. A fuel-cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen
fuel with oxygen from air to produce electricity. The only waste by-product of that conversion is water vapor.
The Sequel became the basis for the design of the Chevrolet Traverse
which is the replacement for the Uplander
minivan
, which is being phased out.
(98 hp
), supplemented by a lithium-ion battery pack rated at 65 kW. One 65 kW electric motor drives the front wheels and individual 25 kW wheel-motors (outboard of the rear brakes) drive each rear wheel, providing total tractive power of 115 kW.
Although this may not sound like much power, electric motors have different characteristics from internal-combustion engines. Specifically, they achieve maximum torque at start-up. Consequently, according to GM's figures, the Sequel will accelerate from 0-to-96 km/h in less than 10 seconds — more quickly than a Hummer H3
and well within the CUV/SUV norm.
Hydrogen storage and, consequently, driving range are major challenges in the development of fuel-cell vehicles. The Sequel stores 8 kg of gaseous hydrogen in three cylindrical, carbon-composite fuel tanks, pressurized to 700 bar
(10,000 p.s.i.) and mounted longitudinally beneath the cabin floor. That is sufficient to provide an unprecedented range of more than 480 km between fill-ups, in spite of the vehicle's considerable 2,170-kilogram mass.
The Sequel is just short of five-metres long (4994 mm), on an exceptionally long (3040 mm) wheelbase — the better to accommodate the extremely long fuel tanks. As a result, it is a very roomy vehicle, particularly in the rear seat.
. However, due to the extremely high cost of fuel cells, GM opted to instead build several hydrogen-powered Chevy Equinoxes
, as testbeds. It then decided to change its direction of alternative-fueled vehicles, and showed the concept Volt
, followed by the production version a year later. As of October 2006, GM has built only two Sequels.
Crossover SUV
A crossover SUV is a vehicle built on a car platform and combining, in highly variable degrees, features of a sport utility vehicle with features from a passenger vehicle, especially those of a station wagon or hatchback.Using the unibody construction typical of passenger vehicles, the crossover...
concept vehicle developed by General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
and introduced at the 2005 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
.
The Sequel is powered by a fuel cell
Fuel cell
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
powertrain
Powertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
, which includes an electronic control unit and a fourth-generation version of GM's fuel-cell stack. A fuel-cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
fuel with oxygen from air to produce electricity. The only waste by-product of that conversion is water vapor.
The Sequel became the basis for the design of the Chevrolet Traverse
Chevrolet Traverse
The Chevrolet Traverse is a seven/eight seat full-size crossover SUV built on the GM Lambda platform that underpins the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook. It is a successor to both the Uplander minivan and Trailblazer SUV...
which is the replacement for the Uplander
Chevrolet Uplander
The Chevrolet Uplander is a minivan produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. It replaced the Venture and Astro. Although introduced for the 2005 model year, it overlapped with the final model years of the Venture and Astro. It was built on the same platform as the Saturn Relay, Buick...
minivan
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
, which is being phased out.
Characteristics
The Sequel's fuel-cell stack has a rated power output of 73 kWKw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
(98 hp
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
), supplemented by a lithium-ion battery pack rated at 65 kW. One 65 kW electric motor drives the front wheels and individual 25 kW wheel-motors (outboard of the rear brakes) drive each rear wheel, providing total tractive power of 115 kW.
Although this may not sound like much power, electric motors have different characteristics from internal-combustion engines. Specifically, they achieve maximum torque at start-up. Consequently, according to GM's figures, the Sequel will accelerate from 0-to-96 km/h in less than 10 seconds — more quickly than a Hummer H3
Hummer H3
The Hummer H3 was a crossover SUV/Sport Utility Truck from General Motors' Hummer division introduced in 2005 based on the GMT355 underpinning the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon compact pickup trucks. Produced at GM's Shreveport, Louisiana factory and the Port Elizabeth plant in South Africa the...
and well within the CUV/SUV norm.
Hydrogen storage and, consequently, driving range are major challenges in the development of fuel-cell vehicles. The Sequel stores 8 kg of gaseous hydrogen in three cylindrical, carbon-composite fuel tanks, pressurized to 700 bar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(10,000 p.s.i.) and mounted longitudinally beneath the cabin floor. That is sufficient to provide an unprecedented range of more than 480 km between fill-ups, in spite of the vehicle's considerable 2,170-kilogram mass.
The Sequel is just short of five-metres long (4994 mm), on an exceptionally long (3040 mm) wheelbase — the better to accommodate the extremely long fuel tanks. As a result, it is a very roomy vehicle, particularly in the rear seat.
Possible production
GM has made no commitment to building the Sequel. However, GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz has said he would push the company's strategy board to approve full production of a fuel-cell vehicle as early as the 2011 model yearModel year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
. However, due to the extremely high cost of fuel cells, GM opted to instead build several hydrogen-powered Chevy Equinoxes
Chevrolet Equinox
The second generation Equinox was announced by GM on December 21, 2008, and debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The 2010 Equinox went on sale in June 2009. It is built on a stiffened version of the same "Theta" platform used in the previous model. The new Equinox...
, as testbeds. It then decided to change its direction of alternative-fueled vehicles, and showed the concept Volt
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and is the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency...
, followed by the production version a year later. As of October 2006, GM has built only two Sequels.