THE GENERAL MOTORS HY-WIRE

Reinventing the Automobile

WORLDWIDE UNVEILING

2002 International Auto Show in Paris, France

The General Motors Hy-Wire was unveiled at the International Auto Show Paris in 2002 and subsequently shown at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January 2003. The first “Ride and Drive” event for the media and assorted dignitaries began touring the globe after the Paris Autoshow in late 2002.

Introductory Speech

Introduction by Rick Wagoner, President and CEO of General Motors (source GM.com)

We asked our global technology and design teams the following question: If we were to re-invent the automobile today, using everything we know about current and developing technologies, what would it look like?

Their response was Autonomy. Many of you were here for its debut in January 2002. Autonomy was the marriage of fuel cell propulsion and by-wire controls… in a package that challenged the industry’s most conventional assumptions about vehicle design, safety and performance.

After Autonomy, we delivered on our promise to introduce the driveable Hy-wire vehicle – powered by a GM hydrogen fuel cell – at the Paris Auto Show later that same year. Hy-wire was the next step in proving out the fuel cell concept. …

Summarizing the Hy-Wire

The GM Hy-Wire demonstrates and showcases the world’s first plug-and-play (i.e., easily interchangeable) vehicle bodies. The bodies are docked to an innovative and electrified skateboard that incorporates both the propulsion system and a electrical power source with enough onboard electricity to operate the vehicle for nearly 100 miles. (When the vehicle is stationary, the power source can also provide enough electricity to run several homes or businesses.)

The interior is very spacious and offers the driver the choice of sitting and driving on the right- or left-hand side of the vehicle, depending on which country the driver is in at the time (for example, driving in the U.K. vs. in the U.S.). The interior steering wheel is the first GM vehicle steering system to feature a vehicle on/off switch consisting of a single button . By eliminating traditional vehicle mechanics needed to operate and drive a vehicle, the Hy-Wire offers an alternative way to steer without having to lift one’s hands off the steering wheel. Also, braking can be performed by squeezing the steering wheel, and accelerating is achieved by twisting the grip on the steering wheel.

As there is no engine up front nor in the rear, for the first time, the driver and passengers can see out through the transparent glass front grill and the back transparent glass “trunk.” The lack of foot pedals instead offers positional footrests that can be moved forward or backward to suit the driver’s comfort needs. Also, since the steering device does not move forward or backwards, the driver’s seat is designed with larger travel to accommodate the needs of 99% of the population.

Some interior features include hidden arm rests that fold up from the door and illuminated lighting positioned in the door trim, roof, floor, wheel arches, and logos. A rear-view camera housed in the steering wheel allows the driver to see what’s behind the vehicle, and there are two rear-view displays at the footwells on each side of the car (corresponding to the right hand and left hand mirrors) that convey what’s in the driver’s blind spots. The spacious, refined cabin seats five adults comfortably and offers drivers and passengers luxurious interior design and top-of-the-line interior environment conditioning.

STARTING WITH THE AUTONOMY COUPE AND NOW THE HY-WIRE SEDAN

The revolutionary GM Hy-Wire integrates technology and design, form and function, vision and action, and it was unveiled just eight short months after the GM AUTOnomy was first showcased. Teams worked around the clock and across the globe to complete the Hy-Wire’s rigorous design, build, and validation schedule. Rick Wagoner, CEO and Chairman of General Motors, had stated that a working model would be shown later in the year, and it was indeed delivered on time. This vehicle is the world’s first fully-functional and drivable vehicle that’s powered with fuel cells and operated with drive-by-wire technology. The AUTOnomy and the Hy-Wire have shown the world that the concepts behind these groundbreaking vehicles have become a reality.