Buses

The HyFLEET:CUTE Project allows a direct comparison between hydrogen fuelled ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) and FC (Fuel Cell) buses.   The project will examine the ecological and economical advantages and disadvantages of both technologies.

The Hydrogen ICE bus component of the project aims to demonstrate new generations of these buses as being a cost effective technology in operation.   This component will also

• develop the technology to improve the power output and the energy efficiency.   One important objective is to reduce the amount of additional energy that the current hydrogen ICEs use compared with a diesel engine.  
• The four (4) first generation of ICE buses will be powered by 150 kW normally aspirated engines.  
• The nine (9) second generation will be powered by 200 kW turbo charged/direct injection engines.
• The third generation bus will be powered by the turbocharged/direct injection hydrogen 200 kW ICE and have a fuel cell auxiliary power unit.

The fuel cell buses used in the previous CUTE project will be continuing in operation in HyFLEET:CUTE.   Operating conditions for the buses will be made more severe by extending average daily operations to twelve hours per day.   The goal is to reach 4000 hours of operations of the individual fuel cell buses.

Testing will also be carried out to reduce the energy consumption of the buses, and to continue to analyse the parameters which influence the lifetime of the fuel cells under practical, rather than laboratory, conditions.

A prototype pre-commercial Fuel Cell Hybrid-bus will be developed and produced.   This bus will have a range of changes from the current generation fuel cell buses to reduce fuel consumption, weight, costs and noise, while increasing reliability, availability and range.  

Improvements may include

• higher pressure hydrogen storage (increased from 350bar to 700 bar),
• wheel hub motors,
• all electrically powered auxiliary systems;
• fewer fuel cells with greater power density.