Fuel Cell Bus Club

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The Fuel Cell Bus Club comprised the participants of three demonstration projects (CUTE, ECTOS and STEP) for fuel cell buses in nine European cities and two other worldwide cities between 2001 and 2007. [1] [2] The Fuel Cell Bus Club became a forum to share experiences and information between cities and researchers. [3] Other cities such as Beijing also tested buses from the consortium behind the project. [4]

Contents

All three projects used Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses, with hydrogen fuel cells from Ballard Power Systems. When completed in 2007, all three projects were deemed a success by researchers. [5] [6] [7] However, the buses were criticised by some operators for their high cost of operation compared to diesel buses, with Madrid reporting that they were around ten times as costly to fuel. [8] Others noted the high purchase price of hydrogen buses, [9] and the need to build dedicated hydrogen filling stations. [8]

Projects

Hydrogen fuel cell powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro at Stratford, London in 2004 London-fuel-cell-bus-route25.jpg
Hydrogen fuel cell powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro at Stratford, London in 2004

CUTE

From 2001, the European Union supported research project Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) began running hydrogen fuel cell powered buses in nine European cities [1] - Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Porto, Stockholm, and Stuttgart. [10] The project was supported by a consortium of transportation operators, hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell developers, universities and city authorities. [11] [12]

At the end of the project in 2006, researchers deemed the project a success. [2] [13] [14] A subsequent project (HYFLEET-CUTE) ran from 2006 until 2009, using the existing hydrogen fuel cell buses as well as new buses. [15]

ECTOS

ECTOS stands for Ecological City Transport System. [16] [17] Icelandic New Energy was responsible for this project, the aim of which was to demonstrate "state-of-the-art" hydrogen technology by running part of the public transport system with fuel cell buses in the city Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Hydrogen was produced from domestic geothermal and hydro-powered energy sources by electrolysis. [18] The project ran from 2001 to 2005. [11]

STEP

STEP stands for Sustainable Transport Energy for Perth. [19] This initiative of the Government of Western Australia's Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI), was the responsibility of the public transport organisation Transperth, though it was run by contracted operator Path Transit. They were operated in the city Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The three hydrogen fuel cell buses were called "EcoBuses". The STEP project ran from 2001 to 2005, with the first buses in service in September 2004. [11] The buses were withdrawn from service in 2007, [20] with one bus subsequently preserved (albeit without the hydrogen fuel cells). [21]

The Perth trial received A$2.5 million funding from the Department of the Environment and Heritage and the Australian Greenhouse Office. [11] It was endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. [11]

BP produced the hydrogen as a by-product at its Kwinana oil refinery (50 kilometres (31.1 mi) south of Perth). [11] The hydrogen was then transported by road in specially designed road tankers to a bus depot in the northern suburbs of Perth. [11] Perth's buses achieved greater reliability and better fuel economy than in any other city in the trial. [11]

By June 2005, the Perth buses had covered more than 60,000 kilometres (37,282 mi) and completed almost 3,000 operational hours, with almost 60,000 passengers having used the service. [11]

China

In 2005, Beijing purchased three hydrogen fuel cell buses from the consortium using United Nations Development Programme grants. These buses entered service as the first fuel cell buses in China, in June 2006. Scientists and researchers hoped to demonstrate how emission free transport could be achieved in China. At the time, fossil fuels such as coal and oil made up 90 per cent of China's total energy use. [4] However, the buses were withdrawn after one year, as air pollution reduced the efficiency and operating life of the fuel cells. [22]

Vehicles and partners

Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell bus Fuel cell bus in Brno.JPG
Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell bus

All projects used Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses from DaimlerChrysler. They used hydrogen fuel cells were manufactured by XCELLSIS Fuel Cell Engines, now a division of Ballard Power Systems, and were developed as an alliance of Ballard, DaimlerChrysler, and Ford. In many cities, hydrogen fuel was provided by BP. At the time, they claimed to be the largest fleet of fuel cell buses in the world with 33 in regular service. The buses were estimated to cost US$1.2 million each and had a range of 300 kilometres (200 mi) and carried around 70 passengers. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuel cell</span> Device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidizing agent into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes from substances that are already present in the battery. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz Group</span> German multinational automotive company

The Mercedes-Benz Group AG is a German multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of the world's leading car manufacturers. Daimler-Benz was formed with the merger of Benz & Cie., the world's oldest car company, and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft in 1926. The company was renamed DaimlerChrysler upon the acquisition of American automobile manufacturer Chrysler Corporation in 1998, and was again renamed Daimler AG upon divestment of Chrysler in 2007. In 2021, Daimler AG was the second-largest German automaker and the sixth-largest worldwide by production. In February 2022, Daimler was renamed Mercedes-Benz Group as part of a transaction that spun-off its commercial vehicle segment as an independent company, Daimler Truck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen vehicle</span> Vehicle that uses hydrogen fuel for motive power

A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen fuel for motive power. Hydrogen vehicles include hydrogen-fueled space rockets, as well as ships and aircraft. Motive power is generated by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy, either by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to power electric motors or, less commonly, by burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine.

Ballard Power Systems Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products for markets such as heavy-duty motive, portable power, material handling as well as engineering services. Ballard has designed and shipped over 400 MW of fuel cell products to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen economy</span> Using hydrogen to decarbonize sectors which are hard to electrify

The hydrogen economy is an umbrella term that draws together the roles hydrogen can play alongside renewable electricity to decarbonize specific economic sectors, sub-sectors and activities which may be technically difficult to decarbonize through other means, or where cheaper and more energy-efficient clean solutions are not available. In this context, hydrogen economy encompasses hydrogen’s production through to end-uses in ways that substantively contribute to avoiding the use of fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz Citaro</span> Low-floor bus from Mercedes-Benz/EvoBus

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro is a single-decker, rigid or articulated bus manufactured by Mercedes-Benz/EvoBus. Introduced in 1997, the Citaro is available in a range of configurations, and is in widespread use throughout Europe and parts of Asia, with more than 55,000 produced by December 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuel cell vehicle</span> Vehicle that uses a fuel cell to power its electric motor

A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor. Fuel cells in vehicles generate electricity generally using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen. Most fuel cell vehicles are classified as zero-emissions vehicles that emit only water and heat. As compared with internal combustion vehicles, hydrogen vehicles centralize pollutants at the site of the hydrogen production, where hydrogen is typically derived from reformed natural gas. Transporting and storing hydrogen may also create pollutants. Fuel cells have been used in various kinds of vehicles including forklifts, especially in indoor applications where their clean emissions are important to air quality, and in space applications. Fuel cells are being developed and tested in trucks, buses, boats, ships, motorcycles and bicycles, among other kinds of vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Fuel Cell Partnership</span> Public-private partnership to promote hydrogen vehicles

The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) is a public-private partnership to promote hydrogen vehicles (including cars and buses) in California. It is notable as one of the first initiatives for that purpose undertaken in the United States. The challenge is which come first, hydrogen cars or filling stations.

Daimler Buses GmbH, formerly EvoBus GmbH, is a German bus and coach manufacturer headquartered in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany and a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG. Its products go to market under the brands Mercedes-Benz and Setra.

Hydrogen technologies are technologies that relate to the production and use of hydrogen as a part hydrogen economy. Hydrogen technologies are applicable for many uses.

Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) is a joint project for world's most versatile hydrogen demonstration. It is aiming for emission-free mobility and has several hydrogen stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route RV1</span> Former London bus route

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuel cell bus</span> Hydrogen powered bus

A fuel cell bus is a bus that uses a hydrogen fuel cell as its power source for electrically driven wheels, sometimes augmented in a hybrid fashion with batteries or a supercapacitor. The only emission from the bus is water. Several cities around the world have trialled and tested fuel cell buses, with over 5,600 buses in use worldwide, the majority of which are in China.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States hydrogen policy</span>

The principle of a fuel cell was discovered by Christian Friedrich Schönbein in 1838, and the first fuel cell was constructed by Sir William Robert Grove in 1839. The fuel cells made at this time were most similar to today's phosphoric acid fuel cells. Most hydrogen fuel cells today are of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) type. A PEM converts the chemical energy released during the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. The Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1990 and Energy Policy Act of 1992 were the first national legislative articles that called for large-scale hydrogen demonstration, development, and research programs. A five-year program was conducted that investigated the production of hydrogen from renewable energy sources and the feasibility of existing natural gas pipelines to carry hydrogen. It also called for the research into hydrogen storage systems for electric vehicles and the development of fuel cells suitable to power an electric motor vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ITM Power</span>

ITM Power plc is an energy storage and clean fuel company founded in the UK in 2001. It designs, manufactures, and integrates electrolysers based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology to produce green hydrogen using renewable electricity and tap water. Hydrogen produced via electrolysis is used for mobility, Power-to-X, and industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar bus</span>

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Professor Thorsteinn I. Sigfusson was an Icelandic physicist prominent in the field of energy research. He was awarded the Global Energy Prize in 2007, and was the Director of the Innovation Center Iceland at the University of Iceland, where he held the Icelandic Alloys Chair.

References

  1. 1 2 Vidueira, J.M.; Contreras, A.; Veziroglu, T.N. "PV autonomous installation to produce hydrogen via electrolysis, and its use in FC buses", International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. Sep2003, Vol. 28 Issue 9, p927. 11p. DOI: 10.1016/S0360-3199(02)00191-X
  2. 1 2 Kris Christen. "Europe's CUTE project for hydrogen-fuel-cell buses deemed a success", Environmental Science & Technology. 8/1/2006, Vol. 40 Issue 15, p4541-4541.
  3. ↑ Adamson, Kerry-Ann (November 2004). "Fuel Cell Market Survey: Buses" (PDF). Fuel Cell Today. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 "First clean fuel buses running on Beijing roads". Gov.cn. 21 June 2006. Archived from the original on 2011-05-04. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  5. ↑ Maack, Maria H.; Skulason, Jon Bjorn. "Implementing the hydrogen economy", Journal of Cleaner Production. Jan 2006, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p52-64. 13p. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2005.05.027.
  6. ↑ Petrović, Jelica; Ivković, Ivan; Vujačić, Ivan; Žeželj, Srećko. "POSSIBILITIES OF BUSES ON ALTERNATIVE FUEL IN PUBLIC URBAN TRANSPORT IN BELGRADE", Technological & Economic Development of Economy. 2009, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p78-89.
  7. ↑ COCKROFT, COLIN J.; OWEN, ANTHONY D. "The Economics of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses", Economic Record. Dec 2007, Vol. 83 Issue 263, p359-370. 12p. 10 Charts. DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4932.2007.00426.x.
  8. 1 2 Dodson, Sean (2003-10-30). "All aboard the hydrogen bus". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  9. ↑ Kettle, Jane (20 January 2005). "Hydrogen bus pilot hailed success so far". Edie. Retrieved 2023-01-10. The high cost of the hydrogen-powered buses is the main barrier at the moment
  10. ↑ "Fuel cell buses arrive in London, just Porto to go", Fuel Cells Bulletin. Jan2004, Vol. 2004 Issue 1, p1. 1p. DOI: 10.1016/S1464-2859(04)00039-2.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Noriko Hikosaka Behling (2012). Fuel Cells: Current Technology Challenges and Future Research Needs. Newnes. p. 486. ISBN   9780444563255 . Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) - Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Buses – Policies". IEA. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  13. ↑ Carvalho, Luís; Mingardo, Giuliano; Van Haaren, Jeroen. "Green Urban Transport Policies and Cleantech Innovations: Evidence from Curitiba, Göteborg and Hamburg", European Planning Studies. Mar2012, Vol. 20 Issue 3, p375-396. 22p. DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2012.651801.
  14. ↑ "Conference wraps up CUTE, next programs", Fuel Cells Bulletin. Jul2006, Vol. 2006 Issue 7, p10-10. 1p. DOI: 10.1016/S1464-2859(06)71128-2.
  15. ↑ "Hydrogen for clean urban transport in Europe". European Commission Cordis . 20 March 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  16. ↑ "Iceland: Long days, hot nights - MENTAL FLOSS". Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ) - Sunday, July 30, 2006
  17. ↑ Maack, Maria; Skulason, Jon. "HOT ROCKS AND HYDROGEN", Power Engineer. Feb 2003, Vol. 17 Issue 1, p14.
  18. ↑ "Iceland buses come clean with hydrogen". CNET. Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  19. ↑ "TOWARDS TOMORROW." Sun-Herald [Sydney, Australia] 9 Nov. 2003: 33. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
  20. ↑ "Hydrogen fuel cell bus trial draws to a close". Public Transport Authority of Western Australia. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  21. ↑ Crosbie, Malcolm (19 June 2011). "Hydrogen fuel Cell Buses". Bus Preservation Society of WA. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  22. ↑ 杨裕生 (20 March 2013). "杨裕生院士：氢燃料电池拯救不了蓝天". Sciencenet.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  23. ↑ "European Fuel Cell Bus Project Extended by One Year". DaimlerChrysler. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
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