InformationFuel
Technology
Solutions
Advanced Generation
Cell Bus
Power Plant
Project Overview
US Hybrid, through an agreement with CALSTART, is developing
an advanced fuel cell power plant for the transit bus industry.
The project will create a working prototype that is capable of
being integrated into and operated in a fuel cell bus. The intent
of this project, as part of the Federal Transit Administration National Fuel Cell Bus Program, is to commercialize the new power
plant for use in an advanced, lightweight, “Buy America” compliant fuel cell bus. On-road fleets will validate the product development and commercialization process This project is an important and necessary developmental step for the fuel cell power plant along the pathway toward commercialization.
The new fuel cell power plant will be capable of installation in a
wide variety of existing buses, and should deliver up to 25 percent more power than the previous fuel cell power plant model
while cutting the system size in half and reducing the system’s
weight by 33 percent. The durability of the fuel cell power system will be improved by close to 50%, also.
After bench tests, future plans include integration into a test bus.
This effort will also provide a supply chain template that can be
used to develop and scale up the manufacturing of fuel cell hybrid buses within a US supply base, thus generating jobs in manufacturing and high technology, and enabling US leadership in
clean transportation systems.
Fast Facts
Some of the project’s targets and expected results:
1) Target: Reduce the size of the fuel cell by 30-50%
Result: >60%
2) Target: Reduce costs by 25-40%
Result: TBD
3) Target: Improve fuel cell stack durability by 10-50%
Result >50% in Lab
4) Target: No impact on passenger space.
Result: Achieved
5) Target: Will fit into a “Buy America” compliant fuel cell bus
Result: Achieved.
6) Target: Can re-power existing fuel cell buses with this lower
- cost, more durable replacement.
Result: Achievable
US Hybrid Model 150
Integrated fuel cell auxiliary power unit for transportation; full power 130 kW; peak power 150 kW
Why It’s Important
The current “Buy America” compliant, domestic fuel cell bus industry is dominated by a single major player in this power range. With
the introduction of this fuel cell power plant, the U.S. can take a
step toward creating a more competitive domestic fuel cell bus
industry. Such a development will help improve affordability, spur
further technological developments, and increase transit’s acceptance of the technology. The integration of this next generation
fuel cell power plant should help establish the roadmap to providing fuel cell bus prices at $1 million or less.
By the end of this current National Fuel Cell Bus project, US Hybrid
should have a product offering that is capable of being integrated
and installed into existing North American fuel cell buses. This project will help to move the process to the next step along the commercialization pathway.
Project Partners
US Hybrid specializes in the design and manufacture of power conversion systems for medium and heavy-duty electric, hybrid, and
fuel cell commercial buses and trucks to improve reliability, fuel
efficiency and responsiveness while reducing emissions.
CALSTART is a private non-profit consortium which works with
business, fleets, and government to develop and implement clean
efficient transportation solutions.
.
Project Timeframe: January 2011 — December 2014
Project Location: South Windsor, Connecticut
For More Information: Larry Wnuk
lwnuk@calstart.org
(626) 744-5685
Fred Silver
fsilver@calstart.org
(626) 744-5687