Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2012

Abstract

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. It provides a summary of results from evaluations performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). It tracks the progress of the FCEB industry toward meeting technical targets, documents the lessons learned, and discusses the path forward for commercial viability of fuel cell technology for transit buses. Its intent is to inform Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Department of Energy (DOE) decision makers who direct research and funding; state and local government agencies that fund new propulsion technology transit buses; and interested transit agencies and industry manufacturers. The 2014 summary results primarily focus on the most recent year for each demonstration, generally from August 2013 through July 2014. The results for these buses account for more than 938,444 miles traveled and 85,061 hours of fuel cell power system operation. The summary results are from four demonstrations at three transit agencies: (1) Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Demonstration Group led by Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in California; (2) BC Transit Fuel Cell Bus Project (final year of in-service operation) in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada; and (3) Advanced Technology FCEB and American Fuel Cell Bus Project at SunLine Transit Agency in California.