GM HydroGen4 Introduced as Part of GM Europe's Green Push

General Motors will present the HydroGen4, a Euro version of the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell, at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show. The HydroGen4 is part of a larger strategy by the automaker to expand its green push throughout Europe.

The Equinox Fuel Cell has been described by the automaker as "an important milestone on our pathway to automotive-competitive fuel cell propulsion technology development."

GM of Europe said it plans to launch 16 new engine families with a total of 93 variants, as well as 10 transmission families with 48 variants, between 2007 and 2012, as part of an extensive environmental strategy. It will roll out an E85 bioethanol derivative of its Cadillac BLS later this year, while Opel/Vauxhall and Chevrolet will adopt the technology as of 2010. Saab will also expand its BioPower range to all models, the automaker said.

"GM is focusing on a wide range of environmentally friendly vehicles, instead of single prestige objects," said Carl-Peter Forster, president of General Motors Europe.

The European Commission is pressuring carmakers to cut CO2 emissions from new cars to an average of 130 g/km (209.2 g/mile) across the fleet by 2012.