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In 2009, Proterra was commissioned by the British Columbia Transit Climate Action Team and the Transportation Development Centre of Transport Canada to bring the bus developed under the NFCBP to British Columbia for demonstration. The bus was delivered to British Columbia Transit in February of 2010.
Between February 15th and March 13th, the bus was weight-loaded to simulate passengers while it ran shadow routes. During these shadow routes the bus followed in-service buses along their regular routes to collect data. After running for 22 days, the bus travelled a total of 1,463 kilometers and was largely successful and well received. The bus performed well on urban routes and the data collected showed a large fuel reduction, about 42.5%, compared to similar diesel transit busses on the same routes. These numbers were achieved without using grid power to charge the batteries, and analysts estimated that using grid power in the future could further reduce fuel consumption by an additional 19 percent. Upon the completion of the demonstration the Hydrogen Hybrid Bus was returned to Proterra for upgrades and repairs. These repairs prepared the bus for scheduled demonstrations in Columbia, South Carolina. For information about the Columbia demonstration, click here. 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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