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Europe, Canada Ally to Purchase Hydrogen-Fueled Buses

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Fuel-cell bus.

Six cities and regions in Europe and Canada are joining forces to buy hydrogen-powered buses. The partners decided to proceed with this international alliance following the successful completion of the major EU-assisted hydrogen- and fuel-cell bus project CUTE (Clean Urban Transport for Europe). (Earlier post.)

Representatives of the partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding on purchasing the hydrogen-powered buses at the meeting of the Third General Assembly of the Europe Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP) in Brussels. The cooperating cities and regions are: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, British Columbia Province, Hamburg and London.

The European Commission voiced full support for the initiative as sending a strong signal to prospective suppliers that a potential market exists for the technology.

The partners hope that benefits such as economies of scale will result from demonstrating joint demand for buses beyond the scope of ongoing demonstration projects, and encourage suppliers to move towards the commercialization of hydrogen buses as soon as possible.

On a related note, European producers of hydrogen and fuel cell technology are seeking to establish a public-private partnership with the European Commission. This partnership, known as a Joint Technology Initiative (JTI), is intended to create a framework for efficient, coordinated demonstration projects and the research and development work that is required for the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles.

Prof. Dr. Herbert Kohler, Vice President Group Research and Advanced Engineering Vehicle and Powertrain and DaimlerChrysler Chief Environmental Officer DaimlerChrysler, has been appointed the chairman of the HFP Advisory Council, which will play a key role in setting up the JTI.

Comments

Harvey D.

Buses with large roof tops (for fuel tanks) and stationary power generating units may be good platforms to test various fuel cell configurations.

Who knows, by 2020+ improved smaller fuel cells may find their way into cars and light trucks as main or auxillary power source.

Will they ever compete favorably or be integrated in PHEVs and BEVs equipped with improved quick charge on-board ESDs?

Alexander Terrell

(City) buses are good for any electric power train due to their stop start driving pattern.

I read that London is trialling HEV buses and that the entire bus is powered off a 1.6 litre diesel engine.

I would love to see the emissions comparison for the HEV bus and fuel cell bus. I suspect the HEV bus will win even before it's plugged in.

Scatter

They have a 1.9L engine. still impressive though! Info on the London hybrid buses can be found here.

SJC

100kw genset in a series hybrid configuration could power a city bus, because the demand is not continuous. This would be pretty amazing. A small turbo diesel driving an alternator continously at optimum efficiency, charging a battery/cap bank, powering a large traction motor.

Cheryl Ho

Since DME has an advantage of decomposition at lower temperature than methane and LPG, R&D for hydrogen source for fuel cell has been carried out.

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