Fuel Cell Bus Project Launched in Alabama

September 30, 2008 --  A research team led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and coordinated by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) has begun a project to design, manufacture, demonstrate, and evaluate a hydrogen fuel cell transit bus that will be operated by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) in revenue  service on the UAB campus and in metropolitan Birmingham beginning in 2009. The 30-foot vehicle will utilize a hybrid powertrain that includes two proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell power modules fueled by hydrogen, a hybrid-electric direct drive propulsion system, and nickel metal hydride batteries for energy storage.  The project is being supported in part by the Federal Transit Administration with funds secured by Senator Richard Shelby and will conclude in early 2011.

In addition to UAB, BJCTA, and CTE, supporting organizations include EVAmerica (bus design), Embedded Power Controls, Inc. (vehicle integration), Hydrogenics Corporation (fuel cells), Fab Industries (hydrogen storage tanks), and Auburn University (vehicle testing).  

Initial performance and operational data will be collected while operating the vehicle on the National Center for Asphalt Technology’s 1.7- mile oval test track located at Auburn University in Alabama. Following this controlled testing, the team will develop and evaluate operations, performance, and maintenance requirements in the public demonstration environment. BJCTA will coordinate closely with UAB to test and evaluate the fuel cell bus on a variety of routes.