Hydrogen fuel cell bus hits the street (CT)

[jpak]

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=6349885&nav=menu29_2

(Hartford WTNH)_ New England's first zero-emissions bus, begins service in Hartford. The bus is making it's debut today.

It is powered by hydrogen fuel cells,which means no tailpipe fumes. Transportation officials say the new bus will have an immediate impact on street-level emissions.

One added bonus is that this bus also runs more quietly than the one you're used to.

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that link has problems...here's a better one...

http://sev.prnewswire.com/travel/20070410/NETU06810042007-1.html

HARTFORD, Conn., April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New England's first zero-emission fuel cell-powered hybrid bus made its debut today in ceremonies at the Connecticut Convention Center.

U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., and officials from the Federal Transit Administration, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Greater Hartford Transit District, CTTRANSIT, Capitol Region Council of Governments and UTC Power were on hand as the 40-foot hybrid electric fuel cell transit bus quietly rolled out onto the streets of Hartford.

The bus will immediately enter CTTRANSIT service and operate first on the free downtown Hartford Star Shuttle route, and then in a few months on other routes that serve the capital city and surrounding towns. This will be done to meet the project goal of testing the bus in all types of typical transit service, including low and high speeds, and routes with steep grades.

CTTRANSIT and project partners will gather and analyze data on fuel economy, maintenance costs and reliability.

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[pberq]

1. good news!

[opihimoimoi]

2. ONE Measley Bus???? Why not 10? Testing can be done quicker

and if it works well, 10,000 buses....then 100,000 buses...etc

[madokie]

3. as is said the first step is always the hardest one to take

as it is always blazing the trail

[opihimoimoi]

4. We should be taking the first step toward Logic and Sanity...never mind delusion and arrogance

[LSK]

5. Hydrogen can work for fleet vehicles, but not practical for cars

If the vehicles come back to the same place every night like busses or taxis coming back to a terminal, the there is need for only one central refueling station.

For hydrogen to be used in the common automobile, you would have to retrofit every gas station in the country or build a whole network for hydrogen stations. Not going to happen.

I can see hydrogen as a partial solution if it becomes common in certain vehicles, freeing up other forms of alternative fuels for cars and other things.