"Fill 'Er Up: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Chevrolet Equinox" Edmunds Daily

Fill 'Er Up: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Chevrolet Equinox

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We have a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Chevrolet Equinox in the office right now, but I don't get to drive it. Anyone who wants to drive the vehicle while it's here for a week or so was required to attend a training session on how to fill it up with all that odorless, volatile hydrogen gas. I missed the training. But that's OK. I can live vicariously (and you can, too), through Senior Editor John O'Dell, the man who embodies the words Green Car Advisor and happens to head up our blog of the same name, who wrote a post here all about the fueling training our drivers got before they could grab the keys to the Equinox.

One of the big hurdles for hydrogen on its journey toward viability as an alternative fuel for the masses is the relative lack of a hydrogen fueling infrastructure for consumers. Ten Edmunds and Inside Line editors caravanned to a Shell station not far from our office that has been equipped with a hydrogen pump to get the low-down on filling up from a General Motors hydrogen specialist. Shell is part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership, which is working to build the hydrogen infrastructure, but there's still quite a lot of ground to be gained before hydrogen fueling stations are available to a large number of Americans.

Is this a realistic glimpse into our collective automotive future? Only time will tell. But stay tuned to all the blogs for driving impressions from the editors who did make it to the fueling demo, and meanwhile weigh in with your own hydrogen-related opinions. What are your thoughts on H-powered cars?

And incidentally, if greenishness in the automotive realm interests you, make sure to check out the Green Car Advisor on a regular basis. There's a ton of great stuff to read every day, and it is the place for eco-focused info with which to impress your friends and neighbors.