General Motors Corp. (GM, Detroit, MI) revealed that it is taking further steps toward the commercialization of fuel cells as a power source in cars and other applications with the construction of a new 7,200m² facility in upstate New York for fuel cell research. The center will be used to develop the materials and processes required to produce fuel cells in commercial volumes.
"We're creating an industry that doesn't exist," commented Byron McCormick, head of fuel cell development and commercialization at General Motors. "Now we've got to start saying if we want to make hundreds or thousands or millions of these things, what are the implications of these choices?"
General Motors hopes to develop a market-ready fuel cell by the middle of this decade, although not for automotive applications. It is likely that the first applications will be stationary or backup power. Fuel-cell-powered cars and trucks by General Motors are not expected to be available before 2010.
