Fuel Cell Bus Demonstrations, page two

fuel cell buses

who has done fuel cell bus demonstrations?

NORTH AMERICA:

SunLine Services Group

In October 2001, the SunLine Services Group, in the city of Palm Desert, concluded a 13-month demonstration of the XCELLSIS ZEbus. The Zebus was tested in simulated transit operations in the Palm Desert area. During the demonstration, the zero emission vehicle traveled more than 14,900 miles with a total run time of 865 hours. The Zebus is powered by Ballard Mark 700 Series fuel cell stacks and was endorsed by the California Fuel Cell Partnership. SunLine also participates in the Fuel Cell Partnership as fuel cell demonstration site; as part of this program, SunLine has installed a hydrogen refueling facility.

Courtesy: http://www.humboldt.edu/~serc/transport.html

The field trial program was designed to allow Ballard to gather data for use in the design and development of commercial heavy-duty fuel cell engines. Specifically, the desert location provided ample opportunity to retrieve vital information on system function and performance in extreme temperature conditions. During the program, various upgrades were implemented, which are being incorporated into the design of the Phase 5 engine, to be installed in 30 buses being delivered to European customers beginning in 2002.

The Zebus also provided an opportunity for riders and public officials to experience the fuel cell bus technology. In addition, potential transit customers were able to train and prepare to work with fuel cell vehicles, both at SunLine and at the alternative-fuel technology program at College of the Desert.

UTC Fuel Cells

UTC Fuel Cells worked with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Georgetown University on Georgetown's demonstration program (see here for full description of this Georgetown program.)

In 1998, UTC integrated a 100 kW phosphoric acid fuel cell system into the Generation II bus for Georgetown's program. The bus uses on-board reformation of liquid methanol; however, the bus is capable of running on a number of fuels, including compressed natural gas. UTC Fuel Cells is planning other partnerships to develop and demonstrate fuel cell buses. See Planned Demonstrations for more information.

Washington, D.C. Transit Agency

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) entered into an agreement with Georgetown University to demonstrate this Gen II fuel cell bus for one year, beginning in mid-2003. WMATA modified the fuel cell bus to insure compatibility with Metro transit buses. The bus will be positioned on the campus of Georgetown University when it is not in service and Georgetown University will provide the methanol fuel to power the bus. Metro will provide the operator for in service revenue testing. The fuel cell bus will operate on various Metrobus routes throughout the entire metropolitan region.

Outside North America:

DaimlerChrysler NEBUS

DaimlerChrysler's "New Electric Bus," or NEBUS, completed regular service on a special line in Hamburg city center to demonstrate its performance in real life service conditions. DaimlerChrysler also road tested the NEBUS in Stuttgart, Germany.

MAN

In 2000, MAN demonstrated a 40-foot low floor transit bus powered by a 120 kW Siemens PEM fuel cell in Germany. Hydrogen is stored on the roof of the bus, and the bus has a range of over 156 miles. MAN is planning on a second-generation of liquid hydrogen powered buses, to be demonstrated in Munich using a Ballard fuel cell system.

Neoplan

Neoplan launched their first fuel cell bus in October of 1999. The bus is powered by a 40 kW DeNora (now owned by Nuvera) PEM fuel cell with a battery. Neoplan and Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH displayed a hybrid PEM fuel cell bus at Munich's "Fuel Cell Day" in May 2000. The bus contained a 80 kW PEM fuel cell system. Extra energy for acceleration and hill climb was provided by a 100 kW flywheel system.

Toyota

Toyota Motor Corp. has developed a 60-seat fuel cell hybrid bus with Hino Motors, Ltd. The low-floor city bus, called the FCHV-BUS1, carries high-pressure tanks of hydrogen. The bus began real world service in the Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Service.