VTA Prototype Fuel Ce

Evaluation:

Interim Results

APTA Bus and Paratransit Conf

Anaheim, California

May 2, 2006

Leslie Eudy

National Renewable Energy Labo

NREL/PR-540-40012
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ss of any i

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state or reflect those of MRI, the DOE, the Government, or any agen
DOE Hydrogen FC Tech

Validation Project

Objectives:

– Validate hydrogen FC vehicles an

in parallel

– Identify current status of technolog

evolution

– Re-focus hydrogen research and 
Why Fuel Cell Techno

• Strengthen national energy security

– Reduce dependence on imported oil

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

– GHGs are thought to be responsible fo

change

• Improve air quality

– Reduce smog and harmful particulates

• Increase energy efficiency

– Fuel cells are inherently more energy 

internal-combustion engines

• Reduce noise levels

– Fuel cell electric drive vehicles can be 

conventional vehicles 
Current FCB Evaluat

Fleet Vehicle/Technology Number 

VTA and SamTrans Gillig/Ballard fuel cell transit bus 3 Evalua

publish

Shuttle bus: Hydrogenics and Enova, battery-dominant fuel cell h

ybrid

1

Shuttle will beg

place.

Delivery van: Hydrogenics and Enova, fuel cell h

ybrid 1 Van in 

AC Transit and Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District 

Van Hool/UTC fuel cell hybrid transit bus integrated by ISE Corp. 3 Buses Van Hool/UTC fuel cell hybrid transit bus inte

grated b

y ISE Cor

p. 1 Bus in 

New Flyer ISE Corp. hydrogen internal combustion engine transit bus

1 Bus in 

U.S. Air Force/Hickam Air Force Base SunLine Transit Agency
Why Evaluate Prototype Te

Demonstrations are a necessary part 

development process, but what do hope to accomplish?

• Show progress toward commercial

– Study the implementation process to d

share lessons learned

– Provide a real data point in time to doc

• Vehicle performance in real-world service• Comparison to conventional technology (b• Costs• Effort required

• Provide a “reality check”

– Keep the marketing from getting too fa

progress
VTA/SamTrans: Interim Dat

Data Period

March – October 200
Partners/Service Ar

• Fleets:

– Santa Clara Valley 

Transportation Authority (VTA), San Jose, CA

– San Mateo County Transit 

District (SamTrans) in San Carlos, CA

• Manufacturers

– Ballard Power Systems– Gillig

• Infrastructure

– Air Products & Chemicals
VTA/SamTrans ZEB Pr

• CARB ZEB Requirements (for fleets w

– By Feb 2006, Demonstrate 3 ZEBs an

infrastructure (Evaluate feasibility of fu

– By Jul 2007, Results reports due to CA– Beginning in 2008, 15% of bus purcha

ZEBs

• Estimated total program cost $18,4• ZEB Program Goals

– Determine the status of fuel cell techn

applications.

– Identify issues and challenges to over– Provide community outreach and educ

on fuel cell and hydrogen technology.
Fuel Cell Buses at V

Number of Buses 

Bus Manufacturer and Model Model Year 

Len

gth/Width/Hei

ght 

GVWR/Curb Wei

ght 

Wheelbase 

Passenger Capacity

3

a

Engine Manufacturer and Model

Rated Power 

Rated Torque 7

Accessories Emissions Equipment 

Fuel Capacity Ap

Vehicle System

The fuel cell bus has a nonhybrid fuel cell systemby Ballard Power Systems

Bus 

• Three prototype fuel cell buses• Diesel buses used for a 

baseline
Infrastructure at VT

Hydrogen Fueling 

Facility

• Facility designed, built 

and maintained by Air Products

• Liquid hydrogen 

delivery and storage

• Compressed to 6,000 

psi and vaporized for 

storage in cascade

• Bus fueling capability 

goal of 8 minute fill 

with communications
Hydrogen Fueling Expe

About 55 kg useful fuel – fast rate required for rea

Cumulative Fueling Rate Histogram: VT
In-Use Bus Evaluati

• Comparison of FCBs to convention

baseline

– Three MY 2004 buses with non-hybrid – Five MY 2002 diesel buses (Cummins 

• FCBs limitations

– Extra service (between scheduled dies– During the week only – Driver and mechanic availability

• Diesel buses randomly dispatched • Average speed 14.5 mph
Average Monthly Mileage 

0

500

1,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,000

Mar-05 Apr-05 May-05 Jun-05 Jul-05 Aug-05 

Miles

Fuel Cell Bus Diesel Bus
Cumulative FCB Mileage 

0

1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000

Nov-04

Dec-04

Jan-05

Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

A

Miles

Bus 4001 Bus 4002 Bus 400

Revenue Ser

Total mileage for all 3 FCBs - over 19,000 
FC Hour Accumulation 

0

100200300400500600700800

Nov-04

Dec-04

Jan-05

Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Au

FC Hours

Bus 4001 Bus 4002 Bus 400

Revenue Serv

Total FC hours accumulated for all buses 
Average Fuel Econo

Fuel Cell Buses have 13% lower energy equivalent compared to diesel (FCB = 3.45, Diesel 3.95) 

0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.50

Mar-05 Apr-05 May-05 Jun-05 Jul-05 Aug-05 

Miles per Gallon (Diesel)

Fuel Cell Bus Diesel Bus
Reliability: Miles Between R

• Diesel Buses – 9,019 MBRC to

11,424 MBRC propulsion relate

• Fuel Cell Buses – 983 MBRC t

1,044 MBRC propulsion related 

Definition: A road call (RC) is a failure of an inservice bus that causes the bus to be replaced on route or results in a significant schedule delay. If the problem can be repaired during a layover and the schedule is not affected, this is not considered a RC. (from the National Transit Database)
Summary

• Bus duty-cycle allows fast accumulat

hours

– As of March 2006, highest mileage bus 

over 17,000 miles

– On-track to achieve over 1,000 FC hour

demo

• Fuel Economy results show need for • Collecting performance and cost data 

conventional technology establishes tracking progress

– Use of prototype FCBs is much less tha– High cost for maintaining current genera

technology
Reality Check –

What Was Accomplish

• Federal Level

– Current status provided to Federal age

FTA, etc.)

– Re-focus of R&D and new funding opp

• State Level

– Provided results to State agencies (AR

Regional Office)

– Regulations can be modified to aid in f

development of the technology

• Local Level

– Provided experience to fleet (and proje– Provided training to local officials (Fire

Responders, etc.)

– Increased public awareness 

– for both 

and general population
Special Thanks

• VTA• SamTrans• Ballard Power Systems• Air Products & Chemicals• U.S. Department of Energy
For More Informatio

Published Report:Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority 

County Transit District

Fuel Cell Transit Buses: Preliminary EvaluatReport # NREL/TP-540-39365www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/tech_validation/pdfs/vContacts:Leslie Eudy, Kevin ChandNREL BattellePhone: 303-275-4412

Phone: 614-

Email: leslie_eudy@nrel.gov Email: chand