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After being upgraded at the Proterra facility in Greenville, South Carolina, the Hydrogen Hybrid Bus was delivered to Columbia, SC for demonstration. The City of Columbia provided a hydrogen fueling station for the bus to use and Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA) provided a location for vehicle maintenance.
Demonstration time for the Hydrogen Hybrid Bus was split between CMRTA and the University of South Carolina. Beginning on June 2, 2010, the bus ran CMRTA’s Rose Hill route. In August the bus started running a route around the University of South Carolina campus. Between August 16th and November 30, 2010, the bus accumulated 2,947 miles and used 399.7 kilograms of hydrogen. Once Phase I ended, the Hydrogen Hybrid Bus went back to the Proterra facility in Greenville, South Carolina for upgrades to the transmission, battery management system, and DC-DC converters. After these repairs are completed, the bus will go to Austin, Texas for Phase II of the demonstration. For more information about the Austin demonstration, please click here. One of the most revolutionary parts of our vehicle is its propulsion system. It is powered by a combination of advanced technology batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Called lithium titanate batteries, the design offers the very latest in charging technology, permitting rapid recovery and fast cycling. Fuel cells assist in recharging the bus's batteries when the vehicle is operating. The fuel cells generate electricity via the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen that produces water vapor, something harmless to the environment. Hydrogen for the fuel cells is supplied via fuel tanks mounted on the roof of the vehicle. Oxygen for the fuel cell reactions is captured and scrubbed from the exterior environment. An important concept in the bus engineering is something called regenerative braking. This concept allows the bus to capture energy deceleration of the bus on downhill grades or other stopping events and uses it to recharge the onboard batteries. When the bus is not in operation, it is recharged via an electrical charging set and the hydrogen fuel tanks are refilled. The Hydrogen Hybrid Bus Team hopes you enjoy learning more about its world-class, one of a kind bus. Visit this site frequently to for updates! |
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