In an EERE-supported study with the Federal Transit Administration, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has found the fuel economy of fuel cel...
August 21, 2013
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In an EERE-supported study with the Federal Transit Administration, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has found the fuel economy of fuel cell powered buses to be up to 2.4 times higher than conventional buses. During this study—the National Fuel Cell Bus Program—the fuel cell electric buses traveled 250,000 miles and had almost 25,000 hours of fuel operation. The 12-month status report includes data collected from 18 fuel cell electric buses at three transit agencies: Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, Connecticut Transit, and SunLine Transit Agency. The final report, Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2012, has shown that the fuel economy of fuel cell electric buses is 1.8 times higher than conventional diesel buses (4 mpg) and 2.4 times higher than compressed natural gas (3 mpg) buses.
Positive Impact
EERE-funded analysis finds fuel economy of fuel cell buses to be 2 times higher than conventional buses.
Locations
California and Connecticut
Partners
Federal Transit Administration, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
EERE Investment
$9.2 million over 3 years
Clean Energy Sector
The Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) conducts comprehensive efforts to overcome the technological, economic, and institutional barriers to the widespread commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cells.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) success stories highlight the positive impact of its work with businesses, industry partners, universities, research labs, and other entities.