I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to interview Stephanie White who was one of the GM Project Driveway participants in Los Angeles. She drove one of the Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for a couple of months earlier this year. Very exciting!
I think you will find all of the information that Stephanie provides to be extremely interesting. She did such a fantastic job of describing what it is like to drive the vehicle.
Thanks so much to Stephanie for taking the time to answer all of the questions! If you are on Twitter, you can follow her @StephsFuelCell. If you are on Facebook, you can join the GM Project Driveway page which she started.
Furthermore, Stephanie has agreed to share some pictures which I have included at the top of the post and below the interview.
Here is the interview which begins with some background information provided by Stephanie:
A little background: I’m a biologist for the State of California. My background is in marine ecology (I did my research in the Antarctic), and I’ve been involved with, and an advocate for, improving environmental awareness for as long as I can remember. I’m a native of Los Angeles, who’s traveled all over the world.
1. What was the application process for Project Driveway like? What steps were involved? How long ago did you go through the process?
I first heard about Project Driveway in October 2007, shortly after facing the fact that I needed to find a replacement for my old car. My boyfriend had seen an article that mentioned LA as a test market for the Chevy Fuel Cell Vehicle, so I signed up. Unfortunately, I wasn’t invited into the program on my first try. Still, I was excited about the opportunity to have an eco-friendly car to drive, so when I received an email from Project Driveway folks in July 2008, I jumped on the chance to join the community.
(There’s a brief introduction to the program and Project Driveway link at: http://www.chevrolet.com/experience/fuel-solutions/fuel-cell/)
The first (and most important) aspect of becoming a participant of Project Driveway is determining if you are in one of the program’s specified regions. GM uses home and work zip codes to determine basic eligibility, since they want to be sure that both the Project Driveway staff and the hydrogen fueling stations are within a reasonable distance. Currently, the program is limited to specific areas in Los Angeles/Orange County, Washington DC, and New York. GM and Gongos Research have developed a series of questions for the initial sign up, everything from basic demographics to the vehicles you are currently driving. I just went through the process again with my Dad, it doesn’t take very long.
2. When did you get to start driving the Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and how long do you have it?
I took delivery of the GM Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle on May 8th, for a two-month lease. GM wants to get a lot of people behind the wheel – both so that the public can experience a fuel cell car, but also to get feedback on what folks like, or don’t like, about the vehicle. The more people test it out, the better the car will be when it hits the showroom floor. Also, some people are still overly concerned about hydrogen. I think this program also provides some insight into public perception of hydrogen as a fuel.
3. I’ve read that the vehicle gets around 180 to 200 miles of range. Is this about what you have been getting? Have there been times when you have almost run out of fuel?
Yes, that is about what I have been getting – although, I often fill up around the 120 mi mark or so (just the way it works out). The car tells you when you are below 50 mi range – that’s when I work my way toward a fueling station. The range is a little limited at this point (about 80 mile radius from any fueling station), but I don’t really feel restricted by it; I just try to fill up when convenient so that I am always ready to go.
I had one day where the limited range was a little problematic. Something came up, and instead of going to the LAX hydrogen station right after work, I had to make a detour to the GM Hub. Unfortunately, I hadn’t remembered that I would need to fill up at GM if I was going to make it home, and it was already nearing their closing time. As always, out GM folks came through and it worked out beautifully. I can’t praise them enough – the GM staff has been phenomenal through this whole experience.
As for almost running out — I was down around the 25 mile mark one day, about 2 weeks into my test-drive, as I was approaching the Shell Hydrogen station on Santa Monica Blvd. As I got off the 405, the trip meter changed to a message that said FUEL LEVEL LOW. It was really nerve wracking! I knew I had enough fuel, but still, you start to wonder: “Was the mileage reading accurate? I should have at least 15 miles left! How am I going to explain it to GM if I need to be towed 1 mile from the station?!”
4. How many miles per kilogram are you getting? Are you driving the vehicle conservatively? Aggressively? Somewhere in the middle?
I’m consistently getting approximately 47 to 55 mpg, essentially, although the fuel is measured in kg, so technically it is 47-55 m/kg or mpg-equivalent (where 1 kg of H2 = 1 gal equivalent of gasoline). I would say that I have been driving the car as I do my own gasoline-powered car; I have not tried to be overly efficient or overly speed-demonesque. As a native Angeleno, I am an assertive driver – I try to pace the lights, so I’ll move around slower traffic, and I definitely try to stay away from people yapping on their cell phones or sending text messages while driving! Yikes People! I like to have powerful acceleration for those instances, and the fuel cell performs beautifully. Still, I’m a little lighter on the pedal since I prefer a smoother, more consistent ride, as opposed to stomping on it at every green light, only to apply heavy braking at every red. When I give people test drives though, we usually test out the acceleration a bit more than I would in my normal day-to-day driving.
I did take the car up to the Santa Barbara/Ventura County line a couple of back-to-back days, which is near the upper range limit for the vehicle. I discussed it with GM staff, and they were confident I could make it there and back without any problems – and they told me not to worry too much! Still, I took the shortest route possible, and I drove very efficiently on those trips to be sure I had enough fuel to get back. That took a little coordination, since I needed a full tank (meaning a fill-up at the LAX station), and I really needed to watch my efficiency both directions. Luckily, I knew that I only needed to make it back to the Santa Monica Shell, which shortened the trip back by about 6 miles or so. I did have a little range anxiety when heading home the first day, so I called a PD alum who kept me relaxed and offered the best advice: DRAFT! Seriously though, I actually gained range on the way home, so instead of pulling into SaMo Shell with 20 mi range, I had 42 mi left (155 on the trip meter). The second day, I came back with a whopping 62 mi range (again, 155 on the trip meter).
5. At which fueling stations do you get your hydrogen?
I have been trained at the Clean Energy Station near LAX and the Shell Hydrogen station on Santa Monica Blvd (West LA), which means I can fill up there on my own. About once a week, I go to GM so they can download data from the car, and they’ll fill the car up there for me. This past weekend, I was down in the OC for an event, and I knew I’d need an additional fill up there, so GM arranged for a PD alum to fill my car for me at the UC Irvine station. There is a new Shell Hydrogen station that is almost ready to open in Culver City. I hope I’ll get to use it before I have to give the car back to GM.
6. How many minutes does it take to fuel the vehicle? Is it different at each fueling station?
Fueling time varies by each station, mostly depending on the technology of the fuel pump, and the method by which the hydrogen gas is delivered and pressurized. Stations which need to chill and compress the gas as it fuels require more time than stations which have pressurized, chilled gas waiting to be delivered. The LAX station has the newest technology right now – it only takes about 3-4 minutes to fill up, after about 2 minutes of safety checks for the hoses and delivery system. The Santa Monica Shell station takes about the same amount of time, but it only delivers fuel to 5000 psi/350 bar – meaning it only gives me a half-fill. The pump at this station does not have infrared sensors on the pump, so GM has us connect a data cable behind the license plate, so it can download data from the car while fueling. The neat thing about the SaMo Shell station is that they are delivering what is theoretically Green Energy – they use city water and city electricity (both delivered by LADWP), and produce hydrogen through electrolysis, and Shell pays a Green Energy surcharge to DWP for alternative (non-fossil fuel) electricity generation. Pretty neat! In addition, this station is the first fully integrated station – what I mean by that is it is a regularly operating gas station that happens to have one pump designated for hydrogen. Most of the stations have their hydrogen pumps in a designated location that is otherwise not associated with fueling. I guess the LAX station would be the next closest to a regular station, although only natural gas vehicles can fuel there.
7. How does the vehicle compare with driving a car that is powered by gasoline? What are the similarities? What are the differences?
I have to begin with telling you that this is, by far, the nicest car I have, or probably will ever, drive. GM held nothing back in giving us a well-appointed vehicle. I feel incredibly safe and comfortable in it, and I have the use of a variety of luxury features (navigation system, OnStar, XM satellite radio) that I have never had before.
In some ways the car is so similar to a regular ICE car that you can ignore the differences, but then again, knowing that I am driving a non-polluting car just makes me happy. I know that sounds silly, but it is so true. Anyone who has been following my twitter or facebook posts knows it (even my friends have been commenting about it!). More than that, I’m remembering how much I like driving. I feel so fortunate to be able to live in LA and to drive this car on the canyon roads and PCH. I can’t honestly say that I love LA’s traffic, but to know that the air coming out of the car is cleaner than that going in is worth a lot. Besides, I get to watch my fuel economy improve in stop and go traffic – it’s become a game to see how high I can get it!
As for the similarities: the car looks “normal” on the inside… steering wheel, accelerator & brake pedals, gear selector/shifter. The dashboard looks nearly the same too, except instead of a tachometer, the car has a kilowatt meter – when you are drawing power (stepping on the accelerator), the kW meter shows how much power you are using; when you are coasting or braking, the kW meter goes into the green zone to show you how much power you are sending to the battery through regenerative braking. The fuel gauge looks the same, except for the little “H” on the fuel pump icon, and of course, the navigation screen has a cool real-time power distribution display screen. The gas tank looks normal from the outside – but when you open the fuel door, the nozzle is a bit different (very similar to a natural gas vehicle) – the pump attaches to the outside of the nozzle, instead of a nozzle on the pump fitting into the car. The fuel door also has a sticker on it, which I love, that says “Fuel: Hydrogen Type I Class C”. Even the exhaust is special – you feel compelled to show people that they can put their hands right up to the exhaust slots at the rear of the car – four slots instead of a tailpipe – and just a nice little steam bath for everyone.
So, the differences: the fuel cell car has a neat jet-engine start up (and shut down), but it is much quieter than a regular car in every way. There is no transmission, so the fuel cell vehicle doesn’t shift, nor does it pause while you are accelerating. You put your foot down and the car just goes – warp speed! I find myself looking at other cars on the road even more than usual. I don’t want this to sound narcissistic or anything, but when you are driving such a special car, you want people to notice – and you want to reach out to those who are interested in the car. Many times PD drivers comment on rolling down the window on the freeway (in stop-and-go traffic of course), or at a stoplight, to tell someone about the car. It is really fun to see others so interested in the car – a highlight for fuel cell drivers, really! Of course, everyone also wants to look under the hood – I‘ve had the hood up more times than I can count! It certainly doesn’t look like the typical car engine – it isn’t a black greasy mess. The funny thing is that it isn’t really much look at, since all you can see is the big block that says “Fuel Cell” and the pretty black panels that cover the air filter and coolant reservoir. Still, it is definitely a “wow” moment for everyone.
8. What has been the reaction to the Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel cell vehicle from your family, friends, people you come across in public, etc.? Are some people surprised at how far along the technology is?
The reaction from people has been so varied. I have spoken with other PD drivers who have had experiences similar to mine, so I know it isn’t unique to me. My family and close friends have been hearing about this vehicle since I first joined the Project Driveway community, and while they share my enthusiasm, they were still incredibly impressed when they first saw the car.
I’ll be honest and establish the fact that I am an eco-friendly tree-hugging vegetarian who has been taking public transit to work every day for the past 3 years. Ask anyone who knows me how I feel about gas guzzlers, and they know the answer. So, people have been enormously surprised to see that I am driving an SUV instead of a small, aerodynamic, econo-car. I’ll also point out that the vehicle is covered, literally covered, with all sorts of decals – mostly those that look like water molecules, but also GM Fuel Cell, Petroleum Free, and Zero Emissions. When I have brought the car to them, they excitedly stop all of their neighbors and invite them outside to have a look at the hydrogen car!
The next surprise is the proportion of folks who appear to be in lower socio-economic levels who are incredibly knowledgeable about the car, and readily approach and ask informed questions about the vehicle. I can’t fully express how interested they are about this technology.
There are many days when I drive the car and I don’t think enough people are noticing it. I thought more of my coworkers and neighbors might be more interested, but really, most just responded with a generic “oh, new car?”.
I think when people first hear about the car, they expect something that looks like an experiment. So when they see how real the car is, particularly after driving it, they want to know, “Where can I buy one?” or “When can I buy one of these cars?”. People want to know why it is going to take so much time to get these cars to the dealers, particularly because they seem so ready now.
9. Did you have to receive training from GM to learn how to fuel and operate the vehicle?
GM takes our safety and the reputation of the test-program very seriously, so they do provide in-depth training on the operation and fueling of the car. The drivers all recognize the privilege we have been given, and no one wants to jeopardize the program. That is why we are only permitted to fuel at stations where we have received training, and we are encouraged to ask questions if there is ever anything we aren’t sure of. GM has people on call 24/7 should we have any issues, in addition to OnStar advisors, who have been trained to recognize our fuel cell vehicles. Also, you might be interested to know that GM has provided training to first responders in the regions where the test-program is underway, and each fuel cell vehicle has a safety card which shows the “do not cut” areas, where the high-voltage electrical cables and air bag system components are located inside the vehicle.
10. What is a Project Driveway Driver Relationship Manager and how much do you communicate with this person?
Every driver in the program is assigned a DRM, who is the one who initially contacts a prospective driver to invite them into the test-drive program, and who serves as the point of contact throughout the test-drive. If I ever have any question whatsoever, Alain is my first call; he’s even programmed into OnStar. I communicate by phone or email with my DRM at least once a week about a variety of things, from scheduling a weekly visit to the GM hub, to asking questions about the car. When a PD alum asked if I could bring my car to an event, I asked Alain if he could arrange for me to refuel in Irvine. Alain was also the one who called and invited me to attend a special press event (where I got to show Governor Schwarzenegger my car), to represent PD and GM’s fuel cell program.
The DRMs are great – they have created such a positive impression of GM. They are incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely interested in our experiences. Other PD alum will similarly tell you that their DRMs were ready to help at a moment’s notice. One of the test-drivers lived in an area that was evacuated during the Orange County firestorm last summer. Their DRM called to see if they needed help with the evacuation – he offered assistance with anything from moving valuables to picking up a car for them (they had their two vehicles plus the EFCEV, but only two drivers in the household). Even though the DRMs are the first point of contact, we do interact with other members of the GM fuel cell team, including engineers who do more of their work behind the scenes for PD.
11. Can you talk about how you met Governor Schwarzenegger recently?
I’d love to. Wow, what an honor it was to be invited by GM (via Alain) to represent Project Driveway for that exciting event! The 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour, which promotes both hydrogen fuel cell cars and the need for the hydrogen highway, traveled from the Mexican Border to Vancouver, Canada between May 26 and June 3.
Governor Schwarzenegger was scheduled to speak at a pit-stop press event to be held at the Shell Hydrogen station, on Santa Monica Blvd in West LA, and I was told that the Governor wanted to meet “regular drivers” – since GM and Honda are currently the only hydrogen fuel cell vehicles being driven on the road outside of manufacturer testing programs.
After the dignitaries spoke, Governor Schwarzenegger came over to talk with us about our cars (Actress Q’Orianka Kilcher was there with her Honda Clarity), before looking at the other manufacturers’ hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. He told us how great the cars are, and how promising the future is for hydrogen vehicles. There were cameras everywhere, and I was interviewed by a number of reporters, too. I was happy to see so much press coverage, especially with all of the state and national news that was breaking right then.
I was thrilled to attend, and, since I work for the State, and theoretically, for the Governor, my boss decided that nothing in the office trumped the Governor’s request to meet a “regular driver” from Project Driveway. In addition to all of the GM folks I met that day, I also met some top people in the hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle world. Really, it was just a thrilling day. For several days afterward, friends and family were emailing stories and photos about the event.
[Photo credit (all photos): Stephanie White]
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