GM Hy-Wire

Back in January of 2002, General Motors introduced a vehicle that was powered by hydrogen fuel cells and used a drive-by-wire system, controlling the vehicle entirely via computer. Affectionately named the Hy-Wire by a classroom of kindergarten students, the vehicle was GM’s $1 billion dollar bet.

Originally unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show in 2002, AUTOnomy showcased an entirely new architecture of vehicle manufacturing, wherein multiple different vehicles could be successfully built using a single common chassis thanks to its innovative parts. At about twice the efficiency ratings as a standard internal combustion engine, a fuel cell vehicle could in theory provide about twice the fuel efficiency of a comparably sized vehicle, emitting only water from the tailpipe.

There were no pedals. No instrument cluster. No steering column. The driver was free to sit anywhere within the vehicle, on top of a chassis that allows for hydrogen storage fuel-stacks to store and distribute fuel from all around the vehicle, eliminating the spaces required to house a fuel tank, drivetrain, engine and traditional seating layouts. In short, the AUTOnomy project changed everything.

I was hired by GM to document in 360 degrees a showing for Congress back in 2003 -2004? I wanted to add this as it was a fairly early 360 for me, so the quality is not what I shoot today, but the unique nature of the event and car was worth showing off.

That said, Hydrogen has not taken off and if you watch the YouTube link below the Top Gear fellows say "this is the future" something like 20 years that what we will all be driving. Didn't happen around here.

USA-Canada / USA-District of Columbia

Lat: 38° 53' 33.911" N
Long: 78° 1' 41.243" W

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: High. Pinpoints the exact spot.

Canon 4ti, Coastal Optics lens, Manfrotto tripod, Photoshop, PTgui

https://www.eagleridgegm.com/happened-gm-hy-wire/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fBqkWkEeqU