NEW YORK (AP) -- General Motors Corp. said Friday it delivered a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle to the Environmental Protection Agency as part of a market test for the technology.
The EPA will use the fuel cell electric Chevy Equinox in its fleet for normal business in Washington, D.C., GM said. Electronic recording devices will record the zero-emission vehicle's performance data.
The delivery is part of GM's "Project Driveway," its effort to develop more fuel-efficient auto technologies.
"Our organizations have learned a great deal about hydrogen fuel cells and we look forward to furthering the commercialization of this important technology," said Elizabeth Lowery, GM's vice president for environment, energy and safety policy, in a statement.
The auto maker said it has already delivered more than 100 Equinox fuel cell vehicles as part of a testing effort for the technology.
GM and other U.S. automakers, battered by plummeting sales, a tight credit market and high gasoline prices, have been pursuing technologies such as fuel cells as a way to ease their dependence on larger, gas-guzzling vehicles.
Shares of GM rose 72 cents, or 5.6 percent, to $13.47 in midday trading.
