Comments on: Burbank To Get Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Bus http://ecotality.com/life/2007/12/13/burbank-to-get-hydrogen-fuel-cell-bus/ EcoDevelopments you can use and invest in. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:58:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Sam http://ecotality.com/life/2007/12/13/burbank-to-get-hydrogen-fuel-cell-bus/#comment-2788 Sam Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:16:53 +0000 http://ecotality.com/life/2007/12/13/burbank-to-get-hydrogen-fuel-cell-bus/#comment-2788 I have just come across the article about the fuel cell powered transit bus on order from MES (PROTERRA)and noticed that it stated that Martin Marietta Composites was supplying the composite bus body. While the composite bus body is a key player in the overall weight reduction scheme, Martin Marietta Composites backed out of the program at the last minute due to what was seen as other business committments and left the search for another able body manufacturer to others. With the help of SAERTEX,USA (www.saertex.com) who is the supplier of the fabrics for the bus body (e-glass and carbon fiber), they found C&C Fabricators located in Bristol RI (401.245.4342) to pick up the slack and produce the all composite bus bodies for MES. Due to several program delays and finally MMC's decision to exit the program, the schedule for delivery of the first bus body was delayed by over 6 months, with the first delivery to MES in May '08. Burbanks bus body due to arrive at MES facilities in Golden Colorado September '08. I have just come across the article about the fuel cell powered transit bus on order from MES (PROTERRA)and noticed that it stated that Martin Marietta Composites was supplying the composite bus body. While the composite bus body is a key player in the overall weight reduction scheme, Martin Marietta Composites backed out of the program at the last minute due to what was seen as other business committments and left the search for another able body manufacturer to others.

With the help of SAERTEX,USA (www.saertex.com) who is the supplier of the fabrics for the bus body (e-glass and carbon fiber), they found C&C Fabricators located in Bristol RI (401.245.4342) to pick up the slack and produce the all composite bus bodies for MES.

Due to several program delays and finally MMC’s decision to exit the program, the schedule for delivery of the first bus body was delayed by over 6 months, with the first delivery to MES in May ‘08. Burbanks bus body due to arrive at MES facilities in Golden Colorado September ‘08.

]]> By: Rex http://ecotality.com/life/2007/12/13/burbank-to-get-hydrogen-fuel-cell-bus/#comment-2284 Rex Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:29:52 +0000 http://ecotality.com/life/2007/12/13/burbank-to-get-hydrogen-fuel-cell-bus/#comment-2284 The implementation of a fuel cell bus in Burbank, CA reflects the leadership that California has shown developing a hydrogen infrastructure. The California Fuel Cell Partnership (http://www.cafcp.org/), a collaboration of 34 companies comprised of auto manufacturers, energy providers, government agencies and fuel cell technology companies, is working to establish a hydrogen infrastructure throughout the state. This collaboration has lead to the development of 28 hydrogen fueling stations in operation – many are located in the Los Angeles area. The National Hydrogen Association is encouraged by the overall progress in California. In addition to Burbank, the AC Transit system, in the San Francisco bay area, has deployed 3 fuel cell buses. You can even see the buses running in real time, monitor power usage and pollution reduction achieved by visiting their website <a href="”" rel="nofollow">bus stats page</a>. An additional 12 buses, 8 of them built by AC Transit, are on order and scheduled to go into operation by 2009. The implementation of fuel cell buses represents only a portion of the progress in California. The automotive industry is gearing up to introduce hydrogen cars in the area as well. General Motors is preparing to launch “Project Driveway,” which will provide 100 Equinox cars to individuals to test for a period of three months. BMW is testing their version of a hydrogen car, which instead of using a fuel cell, uses an internal combustion engine that operates on hydrogen. Finally, Honda is scheduled to begin leasing their new FCX Clarity to consumers in summer 2008. Other states, such as South Carolina and Connecticut, are making great strides learning from California’s collaborative efforts bringing industries together, working to make the hydrogen economy something that many critics have considered impossible – a reality. The implementation of a fuel cell bus in Burbank, CA reflects the leadership that California has shown developing a hydrogen infrastructure. The California Fuel Cell Partnership (http://www.cafcp.org/), a collaboration of 34 companies comprised of auto manufacturers, energy providers, government agencies and fuel cell technology companies, is working to establish a hydrogen infrastructure throughout the state. This collaboration has lead to the development of 28 hydrogen fueling stations in operation – many are located in the Los Angeles area.

The National Hydrogen Association is encouraged by the overall progress in California. In addition to Burbank, the AC Transit system, in the San Francisco bay area, has deployed 3 fuel cell buses. You can even see the buses running in real time, monitor power usage and pollution reduction achieved by visiting their website bus stats page. An additional 12 buses, 8 of them built by AC Transit, are on order and scheduled to go into operation by 2009.

The implementation of fuel cell buses represents only a portion of the progress in California. The automotive industry is gearing up to introduce hydrogen cars in the area as well. General Motors is preparing to launch “Project Driveway,” which will provide 100 Equinox cars to individuals to test for a period of three months. BMW is testing their version of a hydrogen car, which instead of using a fuel cell, uses an internal combustion engine that operates on hydrogen. Finally, Honda is scheduled to begin leasing their new FCX Clarity to consumers in summer 2008.

Other states, such as South Carolina and Connecticut, are making great strides learning from California’s collaborative efforts bringing industries together, working to make the hydrogen economy something that many critics have considered impossible – a reality.

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