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Chevrolet turns a Colorado Pickup into a Hydrogen-Powered Army Assault Vehicle

The U.S. Army gets all the best toys. From rocket-equipped helicopters to hovercraft to Oshkosh’s L-ATV, there isn’t a modern machine our military can’t test.

The latest piece of forward-thinking technology comes from General Motors, and it doesn’t just look wild — lurking beneath the surface of its inflated panels is a truly remarkable powertrain. Chevrolet’s ZH2 vehicle is based on its Colorado pickup and has been co-developed with the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC).

Not only is this thing much larger than a standard Colorado — it’s 6.5 feet tall and 7 feet wide — it uses a zero emissions hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain. The only sound coming from this rig will be gravel crunching beneath its over-sized tires. Apart from the electric powertrain, the ZH2 is equipped with flared wheel arches, a camouflage exterior, LED light bar, and plenty of extra ground clearance.

The hydrogen pickup was introduced at the fall meeting of the Association of the United States Army and is scheduled to run tests throughout 2017.

“I’ve got to figure out how to get on the bases, so I can have some of the fun,” says Charlie Freese, who leads GM’s fuel cell program.

There are some benefits and drawbacks to a hydrogen-powered military vehicle. The most obvious benefit is its inherent stealth. Without those bright lights on, the ZH2 can creep along without the hum of a traditional gas or diesel engine. The water byproduct of hydrogen’s mix of water and oxygen could also be useful in desert climates.

Unfortunately, hydrogen fuel cells can’t be powered by readily available fuel sources and any mechanical issues will undoubtedly be harder to diagnose for an army engineer than a standard motor. If the American military were to make a switch to emissions-free vehicles down the road, it would need to train its maintenance staff for quick fixes.

The ZH2 uses a 92-kW fuel cell that produces 174 horsepower, sent to all four wheels via a single motor. That doesn’t sound like much for a go-anywhere-do-anything vehicle, and the GM is already considering additional motors at each wheel (like some modern supercars).

For those already wondered when American consumers can get their hands on this kind of technology, remember that Toyota’s Mirai uses hydrogen fuel cell power and Tesla is already at work on an EV pickup. It’s coming, folks.

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First drive: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is a pickup that appeals to everyone
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It’s no secret that large pickup trucks are all moving upstream. Once the obvious choice for workers needing a capable pickup for towing or hauling, large pickups have morphed into family-friendly vehicles with luxurious touches and six-figure price tags. While a lot has changed for large trucks, automakers are happy to continue offering midsize trucks with no-frill interiors, decade-old powertrains, and terrible ride quality. The fully redesigned 2023 Chevrolet Colorado enters the segment and immediately gets to work on changing the status quo. Like an overzealous 16-year-old heading into their first job, the new Colorado eagerly looks to change how things are done.
Chevy must have gotten tired of falling behind the reliable Toyota Tacoma in sales, being pushed aside by the off-road ready Jeep Gladiator, or being ignored by the comfortable Honda Ridgeline, because the 2023 Colorado incorporates qualities from all of its main rivals.
Do the changes work? Yes, undoubtedly so. They do more than just work; they send the Colorado to the top of the tier list, regardless of where your allegiances – Toyota for this particular writer – lie.

What’s new with the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado?
Pretty much everything. While most people will get caught up on the Colorado’s far more rugged design that improves off-roading capability, the changes are more than skin deep. The truck utilizes a new frame that’s derived from the Silverado 1500. Compared to the outgoing Colorado, the new pickup’s front axle is moved forward for a far shorter front overhang, and the wheelbase has been stretched by 3.1 inches.
Chevrolet has streamlined the Colorado’s body styles by only offering the 2023 version of the pickup as a crew cab with a short bed. Seeing as how two-door pickup trucks have all but disappeared from existence, this isn’t a surprising change.
Another large change is what’s under the hood. Before, the Colorado was offered with three engines: a four-cylinder, V6, and a turbo-diesel. Now, consumers have to spec their Colorados with a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with three different power ratings. More on the engine later.
Unlike other midsize pickup trucks in the class that have infotainment systems from the prehistoric era, every Colorado comes with an 11.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You’re also getting Google built-in and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. These features blow anything you’ll find from a competitor out of the water.
Chevy brought us to San Diego to drive a few Colorados. We had some time with the base Work Truck, rugged Trail Boss, and Z71. The LT trim was harder to get a hold of than decent weather, and while Chevy did have a ZR2 on hand, it was more for the purposes of teasing everyone.

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