The special army model Colorado is bigger than its simple colleague: in height it reaches 1.98 m, in width - more than 2.13 m. The manufacturer did not specify the length, but explained that the original platform was stretched.
To the company Chevrolet presented at the autumn meeting of the US Army Association (AUSA) pickup on fuel cells Colorado ZH 2 . Announced last autumn, the project turned out interesting and externally, and on stuffing a car. Outside, the experimental prototype looks more like a show car for an exhibition of tuning, but inside it is a block of hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors.
Pick-up Colorado ZH 2 is created in cooperation with the army research and engineering center for tanks and cars (TARDEC). It took less than a year to work. But we need to remember that this is not the first project of the GM concern in this field. For example, ten years ago the company equipped the fuel cells with the crossover Equinox , and a large batch of such vehicles was tested by the US military (on the bases of the ground forces and marines).
The salon is almost standard, but it differs with sports seats, and in the device instead of a tachometer - the power meter of the power plant.
The army considers such a pickup as a multifunctional machine. Despite the exotic fuel, in the long term it can be used not only as official transport at military bases, but also in the field. Here the fuel cell car has a number of advantages over the ordinary: almost complete quiet operation and low thermal signature, which can be useful in reconnaissance operations.
The fuel cell unit took the place of the ICE. Modified for heavy off-road suspension and tires 37 × 12.5 R17 BFGoodrich Baja Champion complement the changes in the model.
Another advantage - the high torque of electric motors, which they develop from zero speed. For a slow overcoming of difficult terrain, this is a big plus. And the fuel cells in this case give a much greater autonomy than it would be in the case of a clean electric vehicle. An interesting element of the project: the block Exportable Power Take-Off. It allows you to feed off the pick-up from external consumers, for example, a small field camp, communications equipment and so on.
In early 2017, the Chevrolet Colorado ZH 2 pickup will pass tests at the GM range in Milford, and then the car will be handed over for a one-year trial to the US Army.
The military will check not only the operation of the hydrogen power unit in the field or the vehicle's patency. For example, condensed steam from fuel cells is an excellent source of water in remote locations. It is also curious that this car is GM's second modern project on fuel cells for defense. Recently, an unmanned underwater vehicle with a similar power plant, created in an automobile concern, was sent to the US Navy for testing.