San Jose, Calif. — Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) new Zero-Emission Buses (ZEBs) have been in transit service for three months, making hydrogen power a reality for the public transportation industry.   These hydrogen powered buses are safe and good for the environment.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, advancing hydrogen fuel-cell technologies offers a cleaner, more-efficient alternative to the combustion of gasoline and other fossil fuels. Also, hydrogen can be derived from a variety of domestically available primary sources, including water and fossil fuels.   As a fuel source, hydrogen creates much smaller quantities of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and none of the air pollutants that create smog. In fact, when pure hydrogen is used in fuel-cell technology to produce energy, only heat and water are emitted.   The only thing emitted from the buses tail pipe is water vapor!

Safety can also be considered one of the attributes of hydrogen.   Since the ZEBs were put into transit service in February 2005, many have inquired about the safety of these buses and what would happen if a hydrogen bus was involved in an accident. 

Hydrogen is much lighter than air and, because of that, if the fuel tank should rupture the fuel would dissipate upward immediately into the atmosphere.   Contrary to some beliefs, it would not explode.   As with all fuels, it is flammable and needs to be handled properly and carefully.  These demonstration buses, including their fuel systems, have been designed with safety first in mind.

The key funding partners in the Zero-Emission Bus Demonstration Program are the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Department of Energy (DOE), SamTrans, and VTA. With this investment, the funding partners aim is to explore the feasibility of using zero-emission fuel-cell technology buses in everyday mass transit service with the overall goals of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gases, improving air quality, and lastly improving the health and quality of life of our communities.

2000 Measure A

The 2000 Measure A package of transit improvements was approved by Santa Clara County voters in November 2000 by a 70.3% majority and authorized a 30-year, 1/2 cent sales tax to begin in 2006.   Measure A supports the Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) and Expenditure Program, a long-range transportation planning effort focused on addressing the Valley’s transportation needs.   VTP provides a balanced transportation system consisting of transit, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements.  The revenue from Measure A enables approximately $2 billion in future state and federal funds to be directed towards these projects. The Zero-Emission Bus Demonstration Program is one of the 2000 Measure A projects.

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About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation planning organization involved with transit, highways and roadways, bikeways and pedestrian facilities.

For more information about VTA services, call VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300, (408) 321-2330 (TDD only). Or, log on to www.vta.org.