GM unveils car with no engine

General Motors has unveiled a car without an engine, steering wheel or foot pedals.

The GM Hy-wire combines hydrogen fuel cell propulsion and electronic by-wire technology. Similar vehicles could be available within 10 years.

The concept is due to be displayed at next month's Paris Motor Show and is the first driveable car to combine the two technologies.

Everything that makes the car go, stop and steer, is contained in an 11-inch thick skateboard-like chassis. All the controls are contained in a simple-to-operate unit called X-drive.

Drivers have the choice of sitting in either the right-hand or left-hand seat and can brake and accelerate with either hand.

They can accelerate by gently twisting either the right or left handgrip. The brakes can be used by squeezing on a part of the handgrip, which also glides up and down for steering.

With no dashboard, foot panels or engine, the front of the car is transparent glass, giving drivers a much-improved view of the road.

By-wire technology allows steering, braking and other systems to be controlled electronically rather than mechanically.

The fuel cell stack, producing a continuously-available 94 kilowatts of power, is installed in the back of the chassis. The electric motor drives the front wheels and is installed transversely between them.

The Hy-wire concept programme director is Cambridge University graduate Chris Borroni-Bird.