Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus Program
The University of Delaware is currently operating a 22-foot, 22-seat transit bus with a hydrogen fuel cell/battery hybrid powertrain. The bus is manufactured by EBus, Inc. of Downey, CA, and is equipped with one 19.4 kW Ballard Mark 9 SSL fuel cell stack and 60 kWh of SAFT Ni-Cd batteries. The University has equipped it with a comprehensive set of sensors and a data logging system, allowing detailed monitoring of all major components in the powertrain. It is used as part of the campus shuttle bus service, and for demonstrations and public outreach. In addition, it is used as a research platform to study new fuel cell system components and control strategies.
The current bus is only Phase 1 of the program; the Phase 2 bus will soon be delivered. It is the same size as the Phase 1 bus, but features two 19.4 kW fuel cell stacks and many improvements to the fuel cell system's balance of plant. The Phase 3 bus is expected to be delivered in late 2009; it is a 30-foot, 32-passenger bus that will be equipped with dual 19.4 kW fuel cells and 32 kWh of Altairnano lithium titanate batteries. These batteries weigh 1600 pounds, compared to 4000 pounds for the 60 kWh Ni-Cd batteries, but can deliver twice the power to the traction system (240 kW, compared to 120 kW), and are expected to last for 20,000 charge cycles (compared to 1,500 cycles for the Ni-Cd).
