Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - 3:00 PM

Zero Emission Enabling - Transit Users Group

Lawrence S. Wnuk, WestStart-CALSTART

Introduction At the request and under initial funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), WestStart-CALSTART is working with the members of seven different Southern California transit properties to facilitate pursuit of zero emission bus propulsion. WestStart-CALSTART is organizing this Zero Emission Enabling - Transit Users Group (ZEE-TUG) to explore fuel cells but most importantly other zero-emission-enabling technologies that offer the promise of reduced total emission levels in transit fleets and reduced dependence on petroleum as a transportation fuel. Such a transit user driven process brings the weight of practical public transit fleet experience to the insertion of technology. This collective “voice of the customer” has proven valuable to the supplier community in other heavy duty fleet applications such as hybrid electric drives in trucks. The group expertise provides prudent suggestions for rollout of new technologies in transit fleets, help in defining requirements for zero emission enabling paths and, ultimately, planning and evaluating demonstrations leading to pilot fleets that embrace the technology.

 

Project The focus of this group will be the “users” which includes the operations personnel, the maintenance staff, and any others from the transit fleet who are concerned about the vehicle and the planning, the scheduling, and the facilities. Of course, as necessary, suppliers and technology providers are also invited for reviews, to describe programs/demonstrations underway, assist in technology review, and for future planning.     

 

The goal is to create a practical, workshop atmosphere. Previously, WestStart-CALSTART, in cooperation with the US Army National Automotive Command has had great success in bringing hybrid electric technology to heavy duty trucks leading to pilot fleets of up to 100 vehicles in just a few short years. Building on that model for the FTA, WestStart-CALSTART will, in similar fashion perform original research and present it to the members to spark ideas among the group and begin moving it along a path of the group’s choosing.  The objective is to encourage the transit industry to take leadership positions in planning and deploying zero emission enabling propulsion technology.

 

A desired result of the group is not seeking consensus on a single solution but rather on the understanding of the choices and paths which are viable and beneficial for each transit agency. The group is holding a series of meetings to facilitate the sharing of ideas and generation of realistic options for technical paths forward, ultimately proceeding to hardware demos. The group is evaluating various zero-emission-enabling paths such as fuel cells, battery-electric propulsion, and catenary power, but will also review gaseous (hydrogen and blends) fuel options for internal combustion engine and hybrid designs.

 Results WestStart-CALSTART will present near-term vehicle technologies in meaningful applications which demonstrate efficient engines and systems, vehicles with performance that meet the demand of their fleets, and extremely clean emissions (approaching zero).The focus is on technology that prudently supports the California Zero Emission Bus (ZBus) policy, specifically for those transit properties that are moving on the alternative fuel path, which requires 15% of new bus purchases be zero-emission starting in 2012.


Back to Early Markets: Heavy Duty Fleets
Back to Program

Back to The NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference 2008 (March 31-April 4 2008)