May 28 - Datamonitor

General Motors has announced that the US Department of Energy has taken delivery of a Chevrolet Equinox electric vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.

Department of Energy (DOE) employees will use the Equinox electric vehicle to conduct day-to-day business while sharing real-world performance data. The initiative is part of Chevrolet's Project Driveway, a market test that is helping bring fuel cell electric vehicle technology to market.

Project Driveway places more than 100 Equinox electric vehicles powered by hydrogen in the hands of a variety of drivers in southern California, metropolitan New York and Washington DC. The vehicle uses no petroleum and zero greenhouse gases are released. The only emission is clean water vapor.

Cheryl Catton, general director of Chevrolet marketing, said: "We Are pleased to have the DOE join in this important endeavor to speed advanced technologies to consumers. The DOE's participation illustrates the value of industry and government working together to provide solutions to our nation's energy issues."