Battery Free Fuel Cell Bus Proof of Concept
Project Overview
Hydrogen fuel cell buses offer a promising advanced technology transit solution, but current designs rely on large, costly battery packs for power management. This project explores a load-following, fuel cell dominant propulsion system that replaces batteries with ultracapacitors, improving efficiency, reducing costs, extending range, and enhancing durability to make hydrogen-powered transit more viable.
By optimizing fuel cell performance and reducing dependency on battery storage, this proof of concept aims to lower capital investment, extend vehicle lifespan, and improve total cost of ownership for transit agencies.
Why it Matters
Manufacturing costs are a major barrier to advanced technology adoption.
Eliminating costly batteries and converters reduces manufacturing costs by 45%.
Efficiency gains mean lower fuel consumption.
A 20%+ boost in system efficiency reduces operating costs.
Durability is key for fleet operators.
30,000+ hours of service life ensures reliability on par with diesel engines.
Project Milestones
Prototype testing and
validation to refine system
performance
Real-world deployment
assessments to measure
efficiency gains
Market feasibility studies
to evaluate commercial
adoption potential
Project Partners
This project is led by CTE in collaboration collaboration with Nimbus Power Systems, a leader in hydrogen fuel cell innovation.
“By addressing the key challenges of cost, durability, and performance, we are paving the way for widespread adoption of fuel cell buses across the nation.”
Recent TVIDC News:
Contact Us
Media & Press Relations
Kate Mason
Director of Communications
kate@cte.tv
TVIDC Project Manager
Jackson Danis
Engineering Consultant
jackson@cte.tv
