UTC Power, Van Hool Partner To Market Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Hybrid Buses in Europe
15 March 2006
UTC Power, part of United Technologies, will work with major Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool to deliver a hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid bus to DeLijn, the largest bus fleet operator in Belgium. The bus will operate in Belgium for six months before being leased to other transit agencies in Europe.
The bus is similar to those in revenue service at AC Transit and SunLine Transit Agency: a hybrid powered by a 120 kW UTC fuel cell stack. Sodium Nickel Chloride high-temperature (Zebra) batteries can store as much as 53 kWh of electrical energy and release up to 95 kW of power, enabling efficiency improvements through regenerative braking, while augmenting the 120 kW of power available from the fuel cell. The bus uses dual Siemens traction motors.(Earlier post.)
Van Hool Managing Director Leopold Van Hool said that by building a demonstration bus for the European market, the two companies hope to advance the use of hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid-electric technology.
Many in the industry view city transit buses as an ideal entry point for hydrogen fuel-cell technology into the transportation sector. Urban transport emissions are a significant issue affecting the respiratory health of a large segment of the population living in densely populated areas. Fuel-cell transit buses have zero emissions and can have an immediate positive impact on street-level emissions. Also, transit buses are generally refueled at central locations, eliminating the need for an extensive network of hydrogen refueling stations.
Speaking at the NHA Hydrogen Conference, for example, Dr. ZongQiang Mao of Tsinghua University said that China expects to have about 20,000 hydrogen fuel-cell buses in service in the top 10 cities by 2020, although very few fuel-cell passenger cars.
With lots of room for large tanks and limited operational area for refueling, city buses constitute an ideal test platform for fuel cells. What happened to the units that New York city was testing a few years ago?
Posted by: Harvey D | 16 March 2006 at 11:53 AM
Mike,
You state "Speaking at the NHA Hydrogen Conference, for example, Dr. ZongQiang Mao of Tsinghua University said that China expects to have about 20,000 hydrogen fuel-cell buses in service in the top 10 cities by 2020, although very few fuel-cell passenger cars."
Three other sites are reporting 20,000 fuel cell buses by 2010 and claiming the source of the information is the NHA.
http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=44364
http://www.hydrogennow.org/HNews/PressReleases/NHA/NHAConfStartsBig.htm
http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage4761.html
Can you confirm for us your source? And double check this to alleviate any confusion.
Posted by: Rick | 16 March 2006 at 01:35 PM
Well, I was in the audience. I'll send Dr. Mao an email for confirmation.
Posted by: Mike | 16 March 2006 at 03:10 PM
That would be great Mike. Thanks and keep us posted.
Posted by: Rick | 16 March 2006 at 04:19 PM
Mike has the story right. I've seen Dr. Mao's actual slides from the NHA. It's 10 cities by 2020 as Mike reported.
Posted by: Gary | 17 March 2006 at 01:00 PM
Thanks, Gary.
Posted by: Mike | 17 March 2006 at 01:32 PM
Dear Sir/ Madam
My name is Bothwell Dzawoma, chairman of a company called
Episight and as corporate company we want to engage in the
transportaion business.
we have been trying to get information about all-electric buses so we were wondering if you could provide us with anything of that sort.
We look forward to your reply soon
thank you
Bothwell dzawoma
Posted by: bothwell dzawoma | 22 December 2006 at 02:41 AM