US Military to Utilize Chevrolet Colorado ZH2, Hydrogen-Powered 4X4 Truck

By Jacques Strauss, | April 04, 2017

In the search for a futuristic vehicle that will be used by US troops, the Army has partnered with car manufacturing giant General Motors. (YouTube)

In the search for a futuristic vehicle that will be used by US troops, the Army has partnered with car manufacturing giant General Motors. (YouTube)

The US Military is in the process of perfecting a futuristic pickup that would run on hydrogen fuel cells. The US Army is working on a modified Chevrolet Colorado to determine if the vehicle can be used in a combat zone.

In the search for a futuristic vehicle that will be used by US troops, the Army partnered with car manufacturing giant General Motors. The aim of the partnership is to gauge the potential of hydrogen vehicles, in terms of range, fuel efficiency, and noise reduction.

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The partnership is testing a modified Chevrolet Colorado. The modified off-road vehicle has been dubbed as ZH2 for the specific test.  The pickup truck was chosen for it demonstrated new-age efficiency and ample muscle.

During a recent test, the camouflaged military truck simply sped across mud and dirt, almost without any detectable noise. If used in a real battleground, the only noise that would be heard would be coming from a low air-compressor whine and the crunch of tires.

"The vehicle can power through that, unimpeded by the terrain, and you're doing it efficiently. We're doing it with more than twice the efficiency of the internal combustion engine. The ZH2 has a top speed around 70 mph and peak range around 200 miles. This is already a stable system, so we know how it performs." Trucks quoted Charlie Freese, director of GM Global Fuel Cell Activities, saying.

The specifics of the tested vehicle mainly involved four radiators and various parts from Chevrolet's Camaro and Corvette. As for its body, excluding stock Colorado doors, all the panels are made of carbon fiber with Kevlar infused on it.

Experts believe that Hydrogen powered vehicles are the future of military mobility. In contrast to combustion engines, hydrogen-powered vehicle lessen heat signatures on the battlefield, according to GM Authority. Thus, adding more stealth, which is very crucial during warfare and rescue missions.

Watch a discussion about hydrogen-powered vehicles below: 


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