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Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Evaluations

Transit buses are one of the best early transportation applications for fuel cell technology. Buses operate in congested areas where pollution is already a problem. These buses are centrally located and fueled, highly visible, and subsidized by government. By evaluating the experiences of these early adopters, NREL can determine the status of bus fuel cell systems and establish lessons learned to aid other fleets in implementing the next generation of these systems.

Fuel Cell Bus Projects

Both DOE and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) fund NREL's hydrogen and fuel cell evaluations. A joint plan describes these evaluations, and the table below summarizes both current and planned DOE- and FTA-funded projects. This table shows the estimated timing for NREL's evaluations. The schedule for planned evaluations is subject to change as each project progresses.

Text version of table of NREL hydrogen bus evaluations for DOE and FTA by site name and location, project period, and funding source. AC Transit in San Francisco Bay area, Northern California geographic area; 12 buses; project is ZEBA Demo; project period is third quarter 2010 through fourth quarter 2012; evaluation funded by DOE technology validation. SunLine in Thousand Palms, Southern California geographic area; 1 bus; project is Advanced FCB Project; project period is second quarter 2010 through first quarter 2012; evaluation funded by DOE technology validation. City of Burbank in Burbank, Southern California geographic area; 1 bus; project is Burbank FCB; project period is fourth quarter 2011 through third quarter 2012; evaluation funded by DOE technology validation. SunLine in Thousand Palms, Southern California geographic area; 1 bus; project is American FCB Demo; project period is first quarter 2012 through third quarter 2013; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program. CTTRANSIT in Hartford, Connecticut, Northeast geographic area; 4 buses; project is Nutmeg Hybrid FCB Demo; project period is third quarter 2010 through second quarter 2012; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program. USC, CMRTA in Columbia, South Carolina, Southeast geographic area, and UT Cap Metro in Austin, Texas, South geographic area; 1 bus; Southeast project is Hybrid FCB; project period is first through fourth quarter 2010; South project is Demo Site 2; project period is fourth quarter 2011 through third quarter 2012; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, Northeast geographic area; 1 bus; project is MA H2 FCB Fleet; project period is second quarter 2012 through third quarter 2013; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Newark, Delaware, Northeast geographic area; 1 bus; project is Light-weight FCB; project period is second quarter 2012 through fourth quarter 2012; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program. SFMTA in San Francisco, Northern California geographic area; 1 bus; project is FC APU Hybrid; project period is third quarter 2011 through second quarter 2012; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program. CTA in Chicago, Illinois, Midwest geographic area; 1 bus; project is Chicago FCB; project period is third quarter 2012 through second quarter 2013; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program. BJCTA in Birmingham, Alabama, South geographic area; 1 bus; project is Birmingham FCB; project period is second quarter 2012 through fourth quarter 2013; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, Midwest geographic area; 1 bus; project is EcoSaver IV Hybrid FCB; project period is third quarter 2012 through fourth quarter 2013; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program. USC, CMRTA in Columbia, South Carolina, Southeast geographic area; 1 bus; project is Advanced Composite FCB; project period is third quarter 2012 through fourth quarter 2013; evaluation funded by FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Bus Projects

The following Excel spreadsheets summarize current and planned projects in the United States and worldwide.

Presentations and Publications by Year

The following publications are also available in a list by demonstration site.

2011

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2011, L. Eudy, K. Chandler, and C. Gikakis. (November 2011)
SunLine Transit Agency Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation: Second Results Report, L. Eudy and K. Chandler. (October 2011)
SunLine Transit Agency Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation: Second Results Report — Appendices, L. Eudy and K. Chandler. (October 2011)
Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration: First Results Report, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (August 2011)
Connecticut Nutmeg Fuel Cell Bus Project: Demonstrating Advanced-Design Hybrid Fuel Cell Buses in Connecticut, L. Eudy. (July 2011)
Compound Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus Hits the Streets of San Francisco: San Francisco Hosts National Fuel Cell Bus Program Demonstration, L. Eudy. (July 2011)
SunLine Transit Agency Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation: First Results Report, L. Eudy and K. Chandler. (March 2011)
SunLine Leads the Way in Demonstrating Hydrogen-Fueled Bus Technologies (Brochure), L. Eudy. (January 2011)

2010

Fuel Cell Transit Bus Evaluations: Joint Evaluation Plan for the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Transit Administration. (November 2010)
Fuel Cell Transit Bus Evaluations: Joint Evaluation Plan for the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Transit Administration; Appendix: Summary of Fuel Cell Transit Bus Demonstration Sites in North America. (November 2010)
Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2010, L. Eudy, K. Chandler, and C. Gikakis. (November 2010)
Bay Area Transit Agencies Propel Fuel Cell Buses Toward Commercialization, Fuel Cell Technologies Program (FCTP), L. Eudy. (July 2010)
National Fuel Cell Bus Program: Accelerated Testing Evaluation Report #2, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit), K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (June 2010)
National Fuel Cell Bus Program: Accelerated Testing Evaluation Report #2, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) Appendices, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (June 2010)
Fuel Cell Bus Takes a Starring Role in the BurbankBus Fleet (Fact Sheet), L. Eudy. (May 2010)
Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Third Evaluation Report, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (January 2010)
Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Third Evaluation Report—Appendices, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (January 2010)

2009

Analysis of Real World Fuel Cell Degradation. J. Kurtz, K. Wipke, S. Sprik, T. Ramsden. Presented at the Fuel Cells Durability & Performance, Alexandria, VA. (December 2009)
Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2009, L. Eudy, K. Chandler, and C. Gikakis. (October 2009)
SunLine Transit Agency Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Fifth Evaluation Report, L. Eudy and K. Chandler. (August 2009)
SunLine Transit Agency Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Fifth Evaluation Report—Appendices, L. Eudy and K. Chandler. (August 2009)
Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Second Evaluation Report, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (May 2009)
Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Second Evaluation Report—Appendices, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (May 2009)
National Fuel Cell Bus Program: Accelerated Testing Evaluation Report, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (January 2009)
National Fuel Cell Bus Program: Accelerated Testing Evaluation Report Appendices, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (January 2009)
SunLine Transit Agency Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Fourth Evaluation Report, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (January 2009)
SunLine Transit Agency Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Fourth Evaluation Report—Appendices, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (January 2009)

2008

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2008, L. Eudy and K. Chandler. (December 2008)
Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Preliminary Evaluation Results, K. Chandler. (October 2008)
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) Fuel Cell Transit Buses: Third Evaluation Report, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (July 2008)
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) Fuel Cell Transit Buses: Third Evaluation Report—Appendices, K. Chandler and L. Eudy. (July 2008)
SunLine Transit Agency Hydrogen-Powered Transit Buses: Third Evaluation Report. (June 2008)
SunLine Transit Agency Hydrogen-Powered Transit Buses: Third Evaluation Report—Appendices (June 2008)
SunLine Begins Extended Testing of Hybrid Fuel Cell Bus. DOE Hydrogen Program (Fact Sheet)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Transit Bus Evaluations: Joint Evaluation Plan for the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Transit Administration. (May 2008)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Transit Bus Evaluations: Joint Evaluation Plan for the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Transit Administration; Appendix A: Summary of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Transit Bus Demonstration Sites in the U.S.. (May 2008)
CTTRANSIT Operates New England's First Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus, DOE Hydrogen Program. (February 2008)
Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation Results (Presentation), L. Eudy. Presented at TRB 87th Annual Meeting. (January 2008)

2007

Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) Fuel Cell Transit Buses: Evaluation Results Update, K. Chandler, L. Eudy. (October 2007)
Hickam Air Force Base Fuel Cell Vehicles: Early Implementation Experience, L. Eudy, K. Chandler. (October 2007)
Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Summary of Experiences and Current Status, L. Eudy, K. Chandler, C. Gikakis. (September 2007)
SunLine Transit Agency, Hydrogen-Powered Transit Buses: Evaluation Results Update, K. Chandler, L. Eudy. (September 2007)
Technology Validation: Fuel Cell Bus Evaluations, L. Eudy. Presentation prepared for the 2007 DOE Hydrogen Program Merit Review, Arlington, Va. (May 2007)
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District—Fuel Cell Buses: Preliminary Evaluation Results, K. Chandler, L. Eudy. (February 2007)
SunLine Transit Agency, Hydrogen-Powered Transit Buses: Preliminary Evaluation Results, K. Chandler, L. Eudy. (February 2007)

2006

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and San Mateo County Transit District—Fuel Cell Transit Buses: Evaluation Results, K. Chandler, L. Eudy. (November 2006)
SunLine Tests HHICE Bus in Desert Climate, L. Eudy. (October 2006)
AC Transit Demos Three Prototype Fuel Cell Buses, L. Eudy. (May 2006)
SunLine Expands Horizons with Fuel Cell Bus Demo, L. Eudy. (May 2006)
VTA Prototype Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation: Interim Results, L. Eudy. Presentation prepared for the APTA Bus and Paratransit Conference, Anaheim, California. (May 2006)
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and San Mateo County Transit District, Fuel Cell Transit Buses: Preliminary Evaluation Results, K. Chandler, L. Eudy. (March 2006)

2005

Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Projects: VTA, SamTrans Look into Future with Bus Demo, L. Eudy. (September 2005)

2004

DOE Hydrogen Program FY 2004 Progress Report, V.C.3 Technology Validation: Fuel Cell Bus Evaluations, L. Eudy. (November 2004)
Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Projects: Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus Lands at Hickam AFB, L. Eudy. (September 2004)

2003

ThunderPower Bus Evaluation at SunLine Transit Agency, K. Chandler, L. Eudy. (November 2003)
Fuel Cell Transit Bus Coordination and Evaluation Plan, L. Eudy et al. (October 2003)
SunLine Test Drives Hydrogen (ThunderPower) Bus, L. Eudy. (August 2003)

Contact: Leslie Eudy 303-275-4412

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