Burbank to Test Proterra Plug-in Hybrid Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus
21 December 2008
The City of Burbank, California has been selected as a national test market for a new hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrid bus, designed and fabricated by Colorado-based Proterra (formerly Mobile Energy Solutions).
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| The Proterra bus. Click to enlarge. |
The prototype will be officially unveiled in spring 2009 in a ceremony in Downtown Burbank, and will go into immediate service on various routes within the BurbankBus network.
Proterra unveiled the HFC35, a 35-foot, composite body, battery-dominant hybrid-electric transit bus at the 2008 APTA Expo, in San Diego, CA, in October. The bus is designed to accommodate a variety of auxiliary power units (APUs) including diesel, gasoline and CNG; the bus featured at the APTA Expo employed two Hydrogenics 16 kW hydrogen fuel cell APUs and a UQM PowerPhase 150 electric propulsion system.
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| The APU unit. Click to enlarge. |
The bus features the TerraVolt fast-charging energy storage system, including proprietary battery modules, battery management and energy optimization systems. The TerraVolt system incorporates a Li-ion battery pack from Altairnano.
Designed and integrated right into Proterra’s composite body floor system, the TerraVolt system can be recharged by either using a Proterra rapid charge station for only minutes at route layovers, by plugging in overnight, or during operation from any form of APU.
TerraVolt also has the ability to solely power a full battery-electric transit bus. The energy storage system is good for 10,000 total discharge cycles (estimated to last the life of the bus).
The fuel cell hybrid has a range of 250 miles before needing to be recharged.
Proterra developed the HFC35 hydrogen fuel cell hybrid electric bus with funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Other agencies involved in the project include the California Air Resource Board (CARB), California Energy Commission and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
Dunno, but this cab design looks positively demonic.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 21 December 2008 at 10:36 AM
We serioulsy need to get on with every alternative energy source available to us. Oil is finite. It would cost the equivalent of 60 cents a gallon to charge and drive an electric car. The electricity to charge the car could come from solar or wind generated electricity. If all gasoline cars, trucks, and suv’s instead had plug-in electric drive trains, the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota. Why don't we use some of the billions in bail out money to bail us out of our dependence on foreign oil? This past year the high cost of fuel so seriously damaged our economy and society that the ripple effects will be felt for years to come. Why not invest in setting up some alternative energy projects on a national basis, create clean cheap electricity, create millions of badly needed new green collar jobs, and get out from under our dependence on foreign oil. What a win -win situation that would be. There is a great new book out called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW by Jeff Wilson. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in alternative energy. www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com
Posted by: Sherry | 21 December 2008 at 12:41 PM
Sherry:
FYI, the initial fed investment in auto industry 25B is specified for retooling in order to produce more fuel efficient vehicles - with an emphasis on hybrid and plug in hybrid vehicles.
RE: "The Manhattan Project of 2009," while I have not read this offering, I did note its author last penned "The Model Railroader's Guide to Bridges, Trestles & Tunnels."
And he's coauthored "Mastering Unreal 3 Technology: Building Virtual Worlds in Unreal Engine 3," along with several other model railroad books.
At least Mr. Wilson acknowledges the simulated nature in the world's crises.
Posted by: sulleny | 21 December 2008 at 09:54 PM