Fuel Cell Works Supplemental News Page

**Successful first half of "Opel Fuel Cell Marathon" across Europe**
Publication date: 29-May-2004 Source: GM
Long-distance record: Hydrogen prototype has already covered 5,474 kilometers Darmstadt. The unique long-distance drive by the HydroGen3 fuel cell vehicle through 14 European countries has reached the halfway stage. 23 days after setting off from Hammerfest in Norway, the hydrogen-powered vehicle today reached the stopover near the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim. Opel Chairman and Managing Director Carl-Peter Forster welcomed the long-distance runner and its drivers when they arrived in front of the University of Darmstadt: "The fact that the HydroGen3 has so far mastered all the strains and exertions without major problems shows that Gen-eral Motors and Opel are on the right track with the development of marketable fuel cell vehicles." Having so far covered a distance of exactly 5,474 kilometers, the Hy-droGen3 has also set a new long-distance record for fuel cell cars. During the 10,000 km "Opel Fuel Cell Marathon ? powered by GM", the prototype, which is based on the Opel Zafira, is being driven by various journalists from Europe and the USA. The tough test will finish on June 10 at Cabo da Roca, the most west-erly point of the continent near the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. For Arne Gottmann from Germany's AutoBild magazine, one of the 15 test drivers so far, the experiment has already been a big success. His appraisal: "After my 1,013 kilometers with the fuel cell vehicle, I can only say: Let the future come!" The stop-over at Darmstadt was used to give the HydroGen 3 a “pit stop” inspection at GM’s nearby fuel cell development center – GM Fuel Cell Activities (GM FCA) – at Mainz-Kastel. For more in depth analysis, the engineers replaced a number of parts, including the stack “The HydroGen 3 has been taken to its limits on many occasions during the first half of the marathon, with dramatic climate changes, a wide variation of road conditions and driving circumstances. We are very proud that there has been no defect that resulted in a failure,” says Dr. Udo Winter, chief engineer of GM FCA. “At the same time we are learning a great number of things during this stiff day to day on-road test which just can’t be simulated in the laboratory. We started for example with a used stack to ensure maximum learnings, allowing us to compare the laboratory results with those on the road .This is exactly the kind of experience we hoped to gather during the marathon.” After the check, the engineers are confident that the HydroGen3 will reliably complete the second half of the marathon. The journey still has to pass through Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. It is also a demanding section, says Bernd Zerbe, an FCA engineer in vehicle testing and validation: “The second half will be par-ticularly interesting because there are mountain stages and much higher outside tem-peratures." The hydrogen Zafira is powered by a 60 kW/82 hp electric motor, which the fuel cell supplies with electrical energy. It accelerates the five-seater from 0 to 100 km/h in around 16 sec and has a top speed of 160 km/h. A mobile fuel station has been pro-vided by the firm Linde to keep the vehicle supplied with hydrogen during the mara-thon distance. The website www.marathon.gm.com has been set up specifically for the "Opel Fuel Cell Marathon powered by GM“, and is attracting just as much attention as the long-distance drive itself. With the aid of an online diary from AutoBild plus up-to-date pho-tos and videos, the progress of the Marathon can be constantly tracked. Visitors will also find all sorts of information on the technology behind the HydroGen3 and the subject of hydrogen propulsion. It is proving to be a particularly attractive site, with more than 10,000 so-called "unique visitors" having paid a visit by half-time. General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), the world's biggest car maker, employs over 325,000 people around the globe. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automo-tive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 192 countries. In 2003, GM sold nearly 8.6 million cars and trucks, about 15 percent of the global vehicle market. Worldwide, some 600 employ-ees are working in the US, Japan and Germany under the umbrella of GM Fuel Cell Activities (FCA) to develop the fuel cell propulsion system to production line maturity. More information on GM and Opel can be found on the Internet at www.gm.com or www.opel.com. Extracts from the HydroGen3 logbook 10.5.2004 "If what I have experienced today is the mode of locomotion of the future, then bring in the future!" Ralf Bielefeld, AutoBild (Germany) 14.5.2004 "A drive into the future - across the United Europe of today: I am sure that every par-ticipant will remember this Fuel Cell Marathon as an exciting event and a significant step towards a new era of the automobile.” Bob Lutz, Chairman of GM North America 14.5.2004 "The trip from Hamburg to Amsterdam was a real experience. The engine whirrs and whistles, and your environmental conscience is clean." Lars Zühlke, Bild am Sonntag (Germany) 17.5.2004 "We welcome the initiative of General Motors and Opel of demonstrating fuel cell technology and hydrogen propulsion systems to the European public through this Opel Fuel Cell Marathon." Loyola de Palacio, Member of the European Commission (Brussels) 20.5.2004 "The car's handling was more like what we are used to in an ordinary Zafira than a laboratory experience." Cornelis Kit, Autoweek (The Netherlands) 20.5.2004 "Driving the HydroGen3 Zafira through four countries clearly showed that GM/Opel has a roadworthy vehicle - and an extremely dedicated team working towards mass production of a fuel cell vehicle." Dave Guilford, Automotive News (USA) ~

Long-distance record: Hydrogen prototype has already covered 5,474 kilometers

Darmstadt. The unique long-distance drive by the HydroGen3 fuel cell vehicle through 14 European countries has reached the halfway stage. 23 days after setting off from Hammerfest in Norway, the hydrogen-powered vehicle today reached the stopover near the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim. Opel Chairman and Managing Director Carl-Peter Forster welcomed the long-distance runner and its drivers when they arrived in front of the University of Darmstadt: "The fact that the HydroGen3 has so far mastered all the strains and exertions without major problems shows that Gen-eral Motors and Opel are on the right track with the development of marketable fuel cell vehicles." Having so far covered a distance of exactly 5,474 kilometers, the Hy-droGen3 has also set a new long-distance record for fuel cell cars.

During the 10,000 km "Opel Fuel Cell Marathon ? powered by GM", the prototype, which is based on the Opel Zafira, is being driven by various journalists from Europe and the USA. The tough test will finish on June 10 at Cabo da Roca, the most west-erly point of the continent near the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. For Arne Gottmann from Germany's AutoBild magazine, one of the 15 test drivers so far, the experiment has already been a big success. His appraisal: "After my 1,013 kilometers with the fuel cell vehicle, I can only say: Let the future come!"

The stop-over at Darmstadt was used to give the HydroGen 3 a “pit stop” inspection at GM’s nearby fuel cell development center – GM Fuel Cell Activities (GM FCA) – at Mainz-Kastel. For more in depth analysis, the engineers replaced a number of parts, including the stack “The HydroGen 3 has been taken to its limits on many occasions during the first half of the marathon, with dramatic climate changes, a wide variation of road conditions and driving circumstances. We are very proud that there has been no defect that resulted in a failure,” says Dr. Udo Winter, chief engineer of GM FCA. “At the same time we are learning a great number of things during this stiff day to day on-road test which just can’t be simulated in the laboratory. We started for example with a used stack to ensure maximum learnings, allowing us to compare the laboratory results with those on the road .This is exactly the kind of experience we hoped to gather during the marathon.”

After the check, the engineers are confident that the HydroGen3 will reliably complete the second half of the marathon. The journey still has to pass through Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. It is also a demanding section, says Bernd Zerbe, an FCA engineer in vehicle testing and validation: “The second half will be par-ticularly interesting because there are mountain stages and much higher outside tem-peratures."

The hydrogen Zafira is powered by a 60 kW/82 hp electric motor, which the fuel cell supplies with electrical energy. It accelerates the five-seater from 0 to 100 km/h in around 16 sec and has a top speed of 160 km/h. A mobile fuel station has been pro-vided by the firm Linde to keep the vehicle supplied with hydrogen during the mara-thon distance.

The website www.marathon.gm.com has been set up specifically for the "Opel Fuel Cell Marathon powered by GM“, and is attracting just as much attention as the long-distance drive itself. With the aid of an online diary from AutoBild plus up-to-date pho-tos and videos, the progress of the Marathon can be constantly tracked. Visitors will also find all sorts of information on the technology behind the HydroGen3 and the subject of hydrogen propulsion. It is proving to be a particularly attractive site, with more than 10,000 so-called "unique visitors" having paid a visit by half-time.

General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), the world's biggest car maker, employs over 325,000 people around the globe. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automo-tive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 192 countries. In 2003, GM sold nearly 8.6 million cars and trucks, about 15 percent of the global vehicle market. Worldwide, some 600 employ-ees are working in the US, Japan and Germany under the umbrella of GM Fuel Cell Activities (FCA) to develop the fuel cell propulsion system to production line maturity. More information on GM and Opel can be found on the Internet at www.gm.com or www.opel.com.

Extracts from the HydroGen3 logbook

10.5.2004
"If what I have experienced today is the mode of locomotion of the future, then bring in the future!"
Ralf Bielefeld, AutoBild (Germany)

14.5.2004
"A drive into the future - across the United Europe of today: I am sure that every par-ticipant will remember this Fuel Cell Marathon as an exciting event and a significant step towards a new era of the automobile.”
Bob Lutz, Chairman of GM North America

14.5.2004
"The trip from Hamburg to Amsterdam was a real experience. The engine whirrs and whistles, and your environmental conscience is clean."
Lars Zühlke, Bild am Sonntag (Germany)

17.5.2004
"We welcome the initiative of General Motors and Opel of demonstrating fuel cell technology and hydrogen propulsion systems to the European public through this Opel Fuel Cell Marathon."
Loyola de Palacio, Member of the European Commission (Brussels)

20.5.2004
"The car's handling was more like what we are used to in an ordinary Zafira than a laboratory experience."
Cornelis Kit, Autoweek (The Netherlands)

20.5.2004
"Driving the HydroGen3 Zafira through four countries clearly showed that GM/Opel has a roadworthy vehicle - and an extremely dedicated team working towards mass production of a fuel cell vehicle."
Dave Guilford, Automotive News (USA)