The story of the GM Electrovan - The first-ever working fuel cell vehicle - Made in America

With practically the same technology as in the Apollo spacecraft that put the first people on the Moon, this is the story of the all-American GM Electrovan, the world’s first working hydrogen fuel cell car.
So stick around until the end of this video to find out why General Motors invested millions of dollars into a vehicle that needed no less than three weeks to start-up the first time. A vehicle that simply disappeared soon after its debut, only to be rediscovered in tip-top shape years later, as if nothing had happened.
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[@maximeestevn5319]

This channel is a total hidden gem

[@briankillya]

Your right about that

[@danh8302]

Did not know about this one, I love hearing about these forgotten research projects.

[@PhilippeDaix]

Glad to see a time back when engineering concept where really exciting and big manufacturers where willing and able to spend a ton of money on show cars. I had never heard of this concept and even 60 years later that makes me re-think my position on General Motors... Let's hope engineering exercices like that one will do a comeback in the near future... I mean in some other car manufacturers than Tesla!

[@georgegilpin1879]

Love the information. Hard to believe they had fuel cell van in the 1960’s.

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

Whoever hid that van on the way to the crusher is a hero.

[@johnhoog8279]

Had to be a conspiracy

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

@@johnhoog8279Whatever it was I'm glad it was saved.

[@SkilllessFlorid3r]

Super cool Video :D I didn't heard about this van before, really informative.

[@packhwk58]

In 1966 General Motors was pretty much the dominant player, they had tons of money and resources to play with., I believe that is why they could fund such futuristic studies.

[@jcbugs2001]

I saw this vehicle in person a few years ago. It truly is amazing! I enjoy your channel. Thank you!

[@J.K.Steingraeber]

Highly appreciate your videos these are great historical reviews on concept vehicles

[@motorheadscom]

Glad you like them!

[@SuperHimanshuPandey]

How did i miss this brilliant channel for so long! Being a mechanical engineer, working in electric vehicles(fuel cell based) , I love your videos, subscribed.

[@motorheadscom]

Thank you very much!

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

I thought I knew about most automotive oddities until I subscribed. Definitely sharing your channel with my family and friends that also love stuff like this.

[@ArmchairDeity]

As one of my other fave channels puts it during their intro: we are the product of 8,000 generations of innovation and invention. Everything we do is based in some way on the work of those who came before us. So what GM did with the electrovan was groundbreaking and set the stage for the next iteration of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles!

[@FrankRuiz66]

It's an evolution of the technology based in the space race of that time. The 60s and 70s were about innovation and the expansion of technology.

[@alexandermathar7780]

Eine Replika mit einem restaurierten Handyvan mit einem Antriebsstrang eines Toyota Fuel Cell wäre cool !

[@felixmeyer7242]

Thanks for the great video. I am currently doing a scientific work on the subject and wanted to ask if I can use pictures from this video? Greetings

[@handyman9298]

anything GM did in the 1960s was a good thing they were great

[@WieDrDerJonge]

Great video!

[@suhailniazi]

Coolest shape of van

[@jirib.5735]

Překrásný kousek👍

[@green29373]

GM really has a bad habit of crushing advanced cars (EV1 cough cough)

[@mlow587]

what was the voltage of cell?

[@joeysanchez5926]

Obviously was never intended for public. Investors had reasons to invest. Millions spent for a reason and made. Plus free publicity.

[@MrRossi1805]

Multumesc mult :-)

[@danhard8440]

at 6:32 the front end is a copy of the mustang rear end lol

[@dehman8174]

So when is the Electrovair video coming. 😉

[@REAL-UNKNOWN-SHINOBI]

Damn and I thought the EV1 was GM's first electric vehicle.

[@midge225]

Sorry to burst your bubble but the worlds oldest fuel cell working vehicle was a milk delivery truck in 1889 in the uk, we know tjem as milk floats and some are still used to this day delivering milk to peoples door steps.

[@motorheadscom]

Do you have extra info on this? Pictures, facts, schematics? Thanks!

[@midge225]

@@motorheadscom just look up uk milk floats 👍

[@jonlee580]

Is hydrogen fuel safe?

[@alexandermathar7780]

Some one should do a restomod by mating a Handyvan with Toyota Mirai.

[@Lupgaroo666]

Interesting. Seems very, very, complex considering Hydrogen can be separated from water via simple electrolysis with out hazardous byproducts. I have produced, stored and burned Hydrogen many times using less than $20 worth of materials. It seems profit is the primary impetus for auto manufacturers, oil companies, and others involved. Why all the bandaid tactics for fuel economy? Engines that shutdown when the auto is standing still in traffic. My Grandfather did that in the 50's. My Father thought something was wrong with the truck until he saw him turning the ignition off at red-lights. Why is my 6 cylinder 2002 dodge Dakota less fuel efficient than my 1999 5.7L 4x4 suburban? Basically what I'm getting at is it is not in their interest to save the consumer money. Until these companies can make Hydrogen vehicles more profitable there will never be serious interest in production. This is why during the Great Recession Exxon and others were making record profits. They are not going to do with less. In the 80's there were rumors of cars that individuals had made extremely fuel efficient and once these individuals showed their inventions to these companies, they were bought and filed away. My father in law had his A&P and worked for a major airline. One of his coworkers made a Hydrogen fuel cell from a lead acid battery case and fed the Hydrogen into his car's carburated engine which he drove back and forth to work. There are vehicles that run on propane, even in the 70's, natural gas, etc. All of which, including petrol, is explosive. How complex would it be to use Hydrogen? Unless you're afraid of the Hindenburg which blew up on it's 63rd voyage. It should not be that hard to produce!

[@20alphabet]

I think they're all dummies who couldn't find their backsides with both hands.