Flashback to 1966: “GM seeks new power sources”; batteries and fuel cells:

A 1966 article in ACS’ Chemical & Engineering News described a General Motors press conference at which the automaker outlined research work being done on non-gasoline-based automotive power sources, with a heavy emphasis on the electrical.

At the press conference, GM demonstrated:

* A working laboratory model of a lithium-chlorine battery.
* Electrovan—a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell-powered GMC van.
* Electrovair II—a silver-zinc battery-propelled Corvair.

For good measure, GM also described work on gas turbines and the Stirling thermal engine. But the emphasis was clearly electrical. GM is taking a hard look at high energy-density batteries, as are Ford Motor, General Dynamics, Gulton Industries, and others (C&EN, Oct. 24, page 55).

Edward Cole, GM’s executive vice president, states that the company is interested in electrical propulsion because “energy conversion is our business.” He also hopes for the research to affect other phases of the company’s business.

Cole became president of GM in 1967. Anticipating federal air pollution regulations, he directed GM engineers to lower engine compression ratios and to design engines that could be run on unleaded gasoline. Under his leadership, General Motors developed the catalytic converter and introduced it on the 1975 model year cars. In the early 1970s, he also was a major advocate for the improvement of rotary engines.