ZH2 COLORADO CONCEPT
GM AND US MILITARY DEVELOP COLORADO COMBAT CONCEPT.
CHEV’S ZH2 Colorado is a hydrogen-fuelled concept that will be tested by the US military. The military sees advantages in fuel cell tech for its long-range operations, with the high torque of the electric motors suited to off-roading.
The ZH2 rides on a stretched and reinforced Colorado chassis and 37in off-road tyres fixed to modified suspension. A power pack in the tray stores power generated by the fuel cell.
GM and the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Centre collaborated to develop the ZH2 from contract to concept. GM is leveraging a range of advanced technologies for multiple applications, including military. “The speed with which innovative ideas can be demonstrated and assessed is why relationships with industry are so important to the Army,” said Paul Rogers, director of TARDEC. “Fuel cells have the potential to expand the capabilities of Army vehicles through quiet operation, exportable power and solid torque performance, all advances that drove us to investigate this tech further.”
The ZH2 will be handed over to the US Army for a year of evaluation exercises.