HONEOYE FALLS, N.Y. (Army News Service, April 11, 2005) -The Army accepted delivery of the world's first fuel-cell-powered military truck Apr. 1 at the General Motors Corp. research facility outside Rochester, N.Y.

Marking the occasion were Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Brig. Gen. Roger Nadeau, commanding general of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

A modified Chevrolet Silverado, the GMT 800, is equipped with two 94-killowat fuel-cell stacks, capable of generating 188 kw and 317 foot-pounds of torque, or roughly the same torque generated by GM's 5.3 liter V-8 engine.

Despite weighing 7,500 pounds, the GMT 800 accelerates similarly to the V-8 powered production truck, but produces no tailpipe emissions. Fuel cells chemically convert hydrogen into electricity and water. Three 10,000-pound-per-square-inch compressed hydrogen storage tanks will provide a driving range of 125 miles.

"The relationship between the U.S. government and private industry is a tremendous win-win scenario, because together this technology will come in better and faster, and will have an incredible impact on us in our civilian lives. And I know what it will do to our U.S. military forces," Nadeau said.

"My excitement is far beyond what we're about to do with this technology and well into what it's going to do for us as we continue to transform the U.S. Army," he said.

The U.S. Army will evaluate the experimental truck until July 2006 at Fort Belvoir, Va. The vehicle will serve in a non-tactical mode while under evaluation and will not be used in ongoing operations.

The Army plans rigorous testing in different climates and locations around the United States to assess performance and give first-hand experience with hydrogen and fuel cells, officials said.

(Editors note: Thomas Moyer serves with RDECOM Public Communications.)