BC Transit is preparing to soon take delivery of the first of 20 hydrogen fuel cell-hybrid buses the transit property plans to field on the roads of Whistler, British Columbia for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010.
BC Transit is the provincial agency for public transportation services, and currently operates a fleet of 700 buses. Whistler, a well-known ski resort north of Vancouver, has embraced sustainability aggressively. The zero-emission vehicles will be a visible part of public transportation during the Olympics, highlighting the provincial commitment to reduction of greenhouse gases. Since public transit will be a critical component for controlling traffic congestion as well as air quality, a high-profile fuel cell bus fleet can serve as an effective promotional tool for hydrogen fuel cell technology.
"We keep our buses for twenty years here."
--Ron Harmer, Vice President of Technical Services for BC Transit
BC Transit is purchasing the buses with assistance from the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada. Based on a competitive process, the bus supply and integration team is now in place. With the recent selection of fueling infrastructure group members, the hydrogen project aimed at putting this fleet of 20 new fuel-cell hybrids into revenue service can now move forward.
On the bus side, a team consisting of
New Flyer Industries,
ISE Corporation and
Ballard Power Systems will be delivering the buses.
• New Flyer Industries was selected to provide the 40-foot, low-floor platform vehicles
• ISE was selected for the advanced electric drive and battery technology based on the company's proven ThunderVolt® system with two 85 kW Siemens drive motors
• Ballard Power Systems is providing the fuel-cell power - HD6 Fuel Cell Modules for 150kW
• Fuel and Storage by Dynetek "DyneCell" compressed hydrogen - eight Type 3 tanks at 350 bar; total approximately 60 kilograms hydrogen
The delivery is divided into two phases: phase one is for delivery of one bus for evaluation in 2008; phase two is for delivery of up to 19 buses in 2009. The requirements for the vehicle will be robust:
• Minimum 10,000 hour warranty for the fuel cell/hybrid-drive/energy-storage/hydrogen storage package
• 500 km range minimum
• 20-year service life
The buses are intended to be showcased during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and then be integrated into the BC Transit fleet.
On the fueling side, BC Transit has finalized contracts with Air Liquide to supply the hydrogen fuel for the new buses. Air Liquide will collaborate with Canadian firms Sacre-Davey Group, Hydrogen Technology and Energy Corporation and Hydrogenics Corporation to design, supply, operate and maintain two hydrogen fuelling stations. BC Transit does not view this as a demonstration project. As Ron Harmer, Vice President of Technical Services for BC Transit remarked, "We keep our buses for twenty years here."
More on the project
Victoria Fueling Station
250 kg per day capacity; initial 120 kg/day onsite production (electrolysis) plus delivered hydrogen gas in tube trailer
Whistler Fueling Station
1000 kg per day capacity; electrolysis production, liquid delivery and station storage
Electrolyser
Hydrogenics Corporation, HYOS L60, 120 kg/day
Drivetrain
Fuel Cell Power
ISE Thundervolt® Hybrid Drive system with two 85 kW Siemens drive motors
Ballard HD6 Fuel Cell Module, 150kW
Fuel Storage
Energy Storage
Dynetek “DyneCell” compressed hydrogen; eight Type 3 tanks
Cobasys 576V-340kW NiMH battery system