USA The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved a $2.1m grant to conduct a demonstration project involving a New Flyer Xcelsior powered by a Hydrogenics CelerityPlus fuel cell.
The purpose of the CEC-approved Alterative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle is to encourage demonstration of advanced technologies and help develop commercial vehicles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, displace petroleum fuel demand, stimulate economic development and enhance market acceptance that will lead to commercial production.
Similar to commercially available zero-emission New Flyer Xcelsior battery-electric buses, the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will use a Siemens ELFA electric drive motor for propulsion. However, instead of storing electricity delivered from the power grid in battery packs on the bus, fuel cells use hydrogen gas and air to produce electricity directly on-board the bus. With water vapor as the only by-product and with no tail pipe emissions, a New Flyer Xcelsior fuel cell bus can reduce an estimated 115 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
With the fuel cell on board, the bus has the ability to yield operating ranges longer than pure battery-electric buses, plus hydrogen fuel tanks on the bus can be refilled in less time than recharging batteries from plug-in electric chargers.
“New Flyer has over 40 years of extensive experience with electric vehicle technology, starting with electric trolleys,” said Chris Stoddart, Vice President of Engineering Services and Customer Services.
“We designed the Xcelsior with public transit agencies in mind, using components and systems that are Buy America compliant and manufactured and supported by leading supply chain partners. Integrating advanced fuel cell technology from Hydrogenics is a natural extension of our zero-emission product evolution. We are very proud to be a selected as a partner with the California Energy Commission.”
