# Presentation: 374564

## Promising Transit Applications of Fuel Cells, Alternative Fuels and Their Applications

**Promising Transit Applications of Fuel Cells, Alternative Fuels and Their Applications**

- William P. Chernicoff
- Aviva Brecher
- Kevin Green
- Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
-  Research and Special Programs Administration
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- Cambridge, Massachusetts

**National Association of Environmental Professionals**
**Annual Meeting**
**June, 2002**

## Options should be examined in the context of total energy utilized from well to wheels and environmental impact from cradle to grave

**There are no clean vehicles**

**...****.only “cleaner” vehicles**

## Context for Understanding Fuel Cells, New Technologies, and Success

- Technologies
- Issues
- Paths to success
- Timelines, policies, and economics
- Are buses an ideal platform?

## Why BusesThe Case for Fuel Cell and AFV Buses

- => Buses present a unique niche market that is highly suitable to take advantage of the FC and and address the numerous challenges associated with a shift to a hydrogen economy
- =>  Offer an opportunity to replace 75,000 transit vehicles. A shift from some of the “dirtiest” vehicles to “cleanest”
- => Immediate and profound impact on congested urban centers and population

## Environmental Concerns of Diesel ICE Buses

- Cancer agents from emissions
- Smog and ozone
- Quality of life
- Concentrated exactly
- 	where people are
- Respiratory irritants

- From NYCT

- Emissions Data from NYCT Bus Fleet

## Energy Demand

- Our Demand is Only Increasing

- U.S. Energy Consumption by Medium-
-  and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (NSTC, 2000)

**Energy Intensity of Automobiles and Transit Buses (NSTC, 2000)**

- Fuel Economy is Not

## Bus Fuel Cost

- Diesel accounts for approx. 5% of total annual operating cost of a transit bus
- Gaseous fuel: large upfront capital cost. Potentially cheaper on a dge basis
- Transit agencies are subsidized

## What Is a Fuel Cell

**Fuel cells make electricity directly from chemical reactions, like batteries, but:**
**Are refueled like engines**
**Don’t need recharging**
**Spacecraft have used fuel cells since the 1960’s**
**Fuel cells are quiet, efficient, and have very low emissions, however:**
**Most use hydrogen for fuel (energy)**
**Fuel processors (reformers) to convert gasoline and other fuels into hydrogen are still in development**
**Fuel cells are still too costly for mass-produced vehicles**

## Schematic of a Fuel Cell

**Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell**
**Single Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA)**

- From H. Dobbs U.S. Army NAC

## PEM Fuel Cells

**5 kW**
**1991**

**10 kW**

**28 kW**

**50 kW**
**1997**

- Today’s Fuel Cells have higher power, are cheaper, and more compact

- Photographs of Fuel Stacks and Assemblies

## FTA Fuel Cell Buses

- Phos. Acid FC Engine

- 40 Ft. Methanol Fuel Cell Bus

- 30 Ft. Fuel Cell Bus

## Energy Solution

- Thinking outside the well
- The Key to the Fuel Cell’s Value

- Renewables

- Hydrogen
- Via reformation
- or electrolysis

- Conventional Approach and Fuel Streams

- Hydrocarbons

## Advantages of the Bus As a Fuel Cell Platform

- Well defined duty cycle
- Centralized fueling and maintenance infrastructure
- Dedicated maintenance staff
- Trained operators
- Risk Mitigation
- Size
- Proximity to people
- Performance Improvement vs. ICE
- Can attract new “white collar” users
- Technology platforms can be applied to other medium and heavy duty vehicles

## Pathways To SuccessEliminating the “Chicken and Egg Complex”

- Bridging Technologies-Myths and Realities
- _[Hybrid](slide21.xml)_
- _[Natural Gas](slide22.xml)_
- Other Fuels
- Centralized vs. Decentralized Fueling Infrastructure
**=> Buses address all of these issues**

- One Chasm...many bridges

## Technical Challenges

- On-board energy storage
- Fuel
- Electricity
- Materials limitations of the fuel cell (Approx. 80% of Cost)
- Platinum
- Nafion (“remember this....Plastics”)
- FC sensitivity to impurities
- In the Fuel Stream
- From the Environment
- Limited life – the disposable vehicle?

## Zero Emissions?

- Well-to-wheels
- 	(Hydrogen production can be energy-intensive)
- But renewables are clean right?
- Emissions displacement
- _[Does offer the potential](slide12.xml)_

## Technology Policy Options For FC Buses and Vehicles

- Decide the $ value of having cleaner air and a reduction in petroleum consumption
- Sensible financial incentives designed to achieve specific objectives and goals in conjunction with....
- Legislative action that promotes these objectives and goals
- Support
- Basic R & D
- Demonstration programs
- To date only partially effective
- Need sustainable, long-term commitments and plans

## In Conclusion

- Buses using current alternative fuel and propulsion technology offer a significant improvement to air quality, but are best justified as a pathway to fuel cell propulsion.
- While fuel cells offer the promise of  “clean” transportation, significant technological, economic, and policy hurdles remain.
- Buses offer a good platform for initial technology deployment and testing
- Timeframe: 5-10 years before initial non-prototype deployment

## For More Information:

- William P. Chernicoff
- 	Advanced Vehicle Technologies Division
- 	Phone:	(617) 494-2756
- 	Fax:		(617) 494-2961
- 	Email:	chernicoff@volpe.dot.gov
- http://www.volpe.dot.gov

## Slide 20

## Hybrid Propulsion

- Platform for developing systems integration...but only goes so far
- Platform to use battery or other electrical storage devices
- Exposure and experience with high voltage systems
- Technology is beyond initial  prototype
- Can use much of the existing infrastructure

- Schematic of Hybrid Propulsion System

**Hybrid vs. Conventional System**

## Natural Gas

- Possibility of providing hydrogen backbone
- Experience with high pressure gas
- Some infrastructure compatibility with hydrogen
- Immediate “interim” solution
- Technology is mature
- Already in use and deployed
- Well developed Codes, Standards, and Best Practices
- 	=> 	Transfer knowledge and experience to hydrogen 	systems

## Hydrogen Production Paths

- Electrolysis
- Hydrocarbon reformation
- On-board methanol
- On-board gasoline or diesel
- Off-board natural gas
- Other