Status of Fuel Cell Bus Development Program

This paper presents the current status of the development of a transit bus powered by a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC). Preliminary specifications for the bus and its operating concept were developed during the first phase of this program. During the present second phase, a team led by H Power is (1) using a 25 kW brassboard fuel cell system to develop the design and operating systems for the fuel cell powerplant; (2) designing and will fabricate, and test three 28 foot test-bed buses TBBs); and (3) developing a design concept for a 40 foot transit bus.

Safety, reliability, maintainability, driveability, and economic considerations dictate that a systems approach be taken to ensure the success of the project. The project team has developed a baseline configuration for the bus and is engaged in the design of the major subsystems. The first bus is scheduled for rollout in October 1993.