Hydrogen is clearly a large part of the solution for mass transit in the United States.
There is no argument that the rise in crude oil prices, the need to curtail pollution and the desire to conserve energy all point to a quest for a better solution to moving lots of people efficiently and reliably day after day.  Hydrogen fuel cells in an electric dual-drive battery-dominant configuration are a big part of the answer.
The project awarded in October 2006 by the FTA as part of the National Fuel Cell Bus Program is being managed by CTE in Atlanta, Georgia and Innovation Drive of Reston, VA, the Team Leader.  The bus is manufactured by Mobile Energy Solutions of Golden, CO working with technical partners Hydrogenics Corporation and Martin Marietta Composites. Demonstration partners include the University of South Carolina, Central Midlands RTA, SCRA, Signature Transportation Parts and Service, Palmetto State Clean Fuels and Mustard N Relish Marketing Communications in SC, Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority and Southern Clean Fuels in AL, CTTRANSIT and the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition in CT.
Our research will premiere a pilot program that incorporates demonstration and testing of a purpose-built, electric dual-drive battery-dominant configuration 37 passenger hybrid bus in three diverse cities, with three diverse cultures.
The “Hydrogen Hybrid Bus” bus, manufactured out of composite materials to increase efficiency, retain crash safety factors and reduce size and weight, will be tested in Columbia, South Carolina, Birmingham, Alabama and New Haven Connecticut over a 24-36 month cycle beginning in mid-2008 as part of the FTA’s national program.
Data collected during this demonstration will be used to improve and troubleshoot the end product, which promises to eventually create substantial efficiencies in pollution reduction, lower procurement and operating costs, and reduced dependence on petroleum.
Specifically our presentation will address the following specifics of the project:

• Infrastructure Construction and Development
  
• Hydrogen Training Programs for Passengers and Drivers
  
• Maintenance Management Systems Pertaining to the Bus
  
• ADA Compliance
  
• Public Relations and Event Planning to Raise Acceptance and Awareness
  
• Programming for Marketing and Advertising
  
• Development and Implementation of a Demonstration Program
  
• Commercialization plans
  

Additional research in this presentation will cover issues related to funding the initial project, and data collection methodology for the demonstration of the “hydrogen hybrid” bus.