Under a planned work effort, the company will serve as systems integrator to deliver the vehicle to SunLine Transit in an effort funded by the Federal Transit Administration, Calstart, California Air Resource Board, and California South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The fuel cell bus will use no fossil fuel, and will demonstrate technology that can reduce dependence on diesel fuel and compressed natural gas. It is scheduled for delivery in December 2011.
The 40ft transit bus will be powered by a fuel cell module supplied by Ballard Power Systems combined with BAE Systems HybriDrive propulsion and power management systems, thereby creating a clean hydrogen-powered transit bus that eliminates fossil fuel-consumption and the associated greenhouse gas emissions, the company claimed.
The company added that the vehicle will use a self-monitoring lithium-ion-based energy storage system that increases battery life and reduces vehicle weight.
Mikel Oglesby, general manager of SunLine Transit, said: ”SunLine is extremely pleased to join in the partnership for the demonstration of the new-generation fuel cell bus that will help to advance the commercialization of this technology in transit operations.”
