Zero-Emission Bus Demonstration Program FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Zero-Emission Bus Technology
VTA and SamTrans' ZEB Demonstration Program
Hydrogen Fuel Information
Hydrogen Safety and Efficiency

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), in collaboration with the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), is participating in a demonstration program to test the viability of zero-emission fuel-cell bus (ZEB) technology. 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.

VTA, as the lead agency in the demonstration program, contracted with Gillig Corporation of Hayward, California to build the demonstration vehicles. ZEBs are powered using fuel-cell engines from Ballard Power Systems of Burnaby, Canada. With SamTrans, the partnership has yielded three clean-running, low-noise buses that may prove ideal for use in congested, urban settings like Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

This document is a collection of the most frequently asked questions about the ZEBs, the VTA and SamTrans joint program, and hydrogen fuel-cell technology.

Zero-Emission Bus Technology

1. What is a zero-emission bus? What is a fuel-cell?
A zero-emission bus (ZEB) emits no harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. A fuel-cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, heat and water. The electricity produced from the fuel-cell is used to power the bus.

2. How is a fuel-cell different from a regular battery?
A fuel-cell and a battery both generate electrical power from fuels used in a chemical reaction. The difference is where the fuels are stored in relation to the cell. In a battery, the fuels are stored inside the battery and, when they are used up during the chemical reaction, the battery is thrown away or recharged. In a fuel-cell, the fuels are stored externally to the fuel-cell, so the cell will keep producing electricity as long as fuel is delivered to it. This is why a fuel-cell vehicle is refueled instead of recharged.

VTA and SamTrans' ZEB Demonstration Program

3. Why are VTA and SamTrans working together on this project?
In February 2000, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted a new regulation to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emitted by public transit buses. In December 2000, VTA's Board of Directors formally adopted the low-emission diesel path as its approach for complying with CARB's regulation. A number of other public transit operators in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland Metropolitan Area took similar action, including the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI), Alameda-Contra Costa Transit (AC Transit), and Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.

By selecting the low-emission diesel compliance path, VTA and other Bay Area public transit operators are required to participate in a zero-emission bus demonstration program. Under CARB's regulation, multiple public transit operators may conduct a joint demonstration program. VTA has elected to demonstrate hydrogen fuel-cell technology in a joint effort with SamTrans.
The potential public policy benefits of fuel-cell technology include reduced dependence on fossil fuels, reduced greenhouse gases, improved air quality, and improved health and quality of life, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

4. Where will the ZEBs be stored and maintained?
A major component of the demonstration program is the ZEB facility located at VTA Cerone Operating Division on Zanker Road at State Route 237 in San Jose. VTA broke ground on the new hydrogen fueling facility in September 2003 and completed installation in August 2004. At the new facility, VTA has the ability to store hydrogen in liquid form and convert the liquid to hydrogen gas to fuel the ZEBs. VTA's maintenance facility includes two maintenance bays to properly clean, repair, and store the ZEBs.

5. Where will I see these new zero-emission buses? Will they run in my neighborhood?
As the lead agency in the ZEB Demonstration Program, VTA operates the ZEBs on various routes. VTA announces the bus routes for the ZEBs at the beginning of each month. For current schedule information, you may contact VTA Community Outreach at 408-321-7575, TDD for the hearing impaired at 408-321-2330, or visit us on the web at www.vta.org/projects/ZEBs.html.

6. How are the zero-emission buses different from the other buses in VTA and SamTrans' fleets? How clean is the rest of VTA's bus fleet?
Similar to other buses in VTA and SamTrans' fleets, ZEBs are low-floor, 40-foot buses that have standard equipment, including air conditioning, ramps for disabled accessibility, destination signs, and audio annunciation systems. Because the ZEBs run on electricity, they are quieter than the standard buses in VTA and SamTrans' fleets that run on internal combustion engines.

VTA and SamTrans operate fleets of environmentally friendly, low-emission diesel-fuel buses on all lines. In a separate demonstration program, VTA is also placing into service three buses retrofitted with a NOx (nitrogen oxide) Reduction System that uses ammonia to reduce NOx emissions by 85% or more. Additionally, both VTA and SamTrans are retrofitting a number of existing buses with emission reduction kits.

7. What is the budget for the Zero-Emission Bus Demonstration Program?
At the present time, the funding is provided by 2000 Measure A Local Sales Tax, the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). VTA continues to seek additional funding for this program.
The program budget is $18,450,000. This includes:
Buses $10,565,000
Facilities $ 3,103,000
Labor and Services $ 2,900,000
Contingency/Operating Cost $ 1,882,000
8. Who else is participating in VTA and SamTrans' program?
VTA has worked closely with the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) to develop the fuel-cell demonstration program. The CaFCP is a well-recognized, international organization that includes most major auto manufacturers, energy suppliers, and government agencies such as the Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, and CARB, among others. VTA is an associate member of the CaCFP, which is dedicated to furthering the application of fuel-cell technology. Other organizations that assist in this program include the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, California Energy Commission, Federal Transit Administration and National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Hydrogen Fuel Information

9. Where does hydrogen come from? How do you buy it?
Hydrogen is the most abundant element on Earth. Although not commonly found in its pure form, hydrogen is a component of commonly known molecules such as water, gasoline, methane (natural gas), and methanol. Pure hydrogen can be "isolated" by unlocking the chemical bonds in the molecules that form these substances. Water molecules, for example, consist of two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom.
One way to produce hydrogen is to use energy to break water apart (in a process called "electrolysis"). Another approach is to free hydrogen from other fuels such as gasoline, natural gas, or methanol (in a process called "reforming").
VTA and SamTrans purchase hydrogen from Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Hydrogen is delivered and stored in liquid form at the Cerone fueling facility and converted to gas form to fuel the buses.

10. How far can the Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) go before refueling?
VTA estimates that a ZEB can travel 200 miles before it needs to be refueled. Each bus carries approximately 50 kilograms of hydrogen fuel to convert to electricity.

11. How do you turn hydrogen into electricity?
A fuel-cell is made of two plates sandwiched together with a plastic membrane coated with a catalyst (a substance that speeds the reaction). Hydrogen fuel and oxygen are fed through channels in the plates on either side of the membrane. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms are attracted to each other; however, only the proton part of the hydrogen atom can pass through the membrane to reach the oxygen. The electron has to take the long way around the membrane to reach the oxygen atom, creating energy in the process. The hydrogen electron is eventually united with the proton and oxygen atom to create water (H2O).
Or, more simply put: Hydrogen + Oxygen = Electricity, Heat, and Water.

12. What is that white vapor coming out of the bus tail pipe?
The white vapor seen coming out of the tail pipe is pure water, one of the byproducts formed during the reaction in the fuel-cell. The water is in vapor form.

13. Why use hydrogen in a fuel-cell? What are the benefits of using hydrogen?
Hydrogen is the most abundant element on earth, and can be found in water, fossil fuels, and other sources. 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 and cause health problems. In fact, if pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, only heat and water are emitted.
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 fossil fuels and nuclear power. This flexibility would make us less dependent on oil from foreign countries.

14. Other than as an alternative fuel, how else can hydrogen be used?
The U.S. Department of Energy states that our country uses more than 23 trillion gallons of hydrogen yearly in a variety of commercial applications:
· Ammonia production for fertilizer, which accounts for about two-thirds of commercial hydrogen use
· Hydrogenation of fats and oils, in which vegetable oils are changed from liquids to solids; shortening is an example of a hydrogenated oil
· Methanol production
· Welding
· Hydrochloric acid production
· Metallic ore reduction
· Cryogenics, which is used in military, aerospace, agricultural, and medical applications to strengthen metal materials and instruments
· Superconductor production.
Hydrogen's main use as a fuel is in the space program. Today hydrogen fuels both the main engine of the Space Shuttle and the onboard fuel-cells that provide the Shuttle's electric power.

Future applications of hydrogen include clean fuel for transportation. Fuel cells may also be able to provide heat and electricity for single homes and communities, or entire commercial and power grid networks. In the future, hydrogen can also be used in internal combustion engines to power industrial processes and ocean fleets. As with gas turbines, conventional combustion engines can be modified to run efficiently on hydrogen or hydrogen/natural gas mixtures for these applications.

Hydrogen Safety and Efficiency

15. Is hydrogen safe?
When handled properly, hydrogen is a very safe fuel source. VTA and SamTrans personnel are trained to work with hydrogen to use it properly.

For many decades, hydrogen has been produced and used for commercial and industrial purposes with an exemplary safety record. Like all fuels, however, hydrogen is an energy source and must be handled with care. The California Fuel Cell Partnership's (CaFCP's) members are building fuel cell vehicles and fueling stations that meet or exceed safety standards. In addition, its members are defining new safety measures with an eye towards accentuating safety to help build consumer acceptance.

One of the attributes of hydrogen is that it is the lightest element in the universe. As a result, if it does escape from its container, hydrogen dissipates quickly into the air - it does not "pool" into a flammable hazard on the ground. Contrary to common misconceptions, hydrogen is not highly explosive in common use. Like gasoline and other fuels, it is flammable, but hydrogen would need to be highly concentrated to be explosive. Because it dissipates so rapidly in the air, this level of concentration is highly unlikely to occur if it should be released.
Another important point is that hydrogen is not toxic, so if it is released, hydrogen does not present a health hazard to humans and its effect on the environment is benign.

16. How efficient is a hydrogen fuel-cell engine compared to a regular internal combustion engine?
A fuel-cell engine is at least twice as efficient as conventional engines. For example, a typical combustion-based power plant generates electricity at efficiencies of 33 to 35 percent, while fuel-cell plants can generate electricity at efficiencies of up to 60 percent. When fuel-cells are used to generate electricity and heat (co-generation), they can reach efficiencies of up to 85 percent. Internal-combustion engines in today's automobiles convert less than 30 percent of the energy in gasoline into power that moves the vehicle. Vehicles using electric motors powered by hydrogen fuel-cells are much more energy efficient, utilizing 40-60 percent of the fuel's energy. Even fuel-cell vehicles that reform hydrogen from gasoline can use about 40 percent of the energy in the fuel.
Other Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstration Programs

17. Are there other companies working on zero-emission vehicles? Where can I see a fuel-cell car? Will I be able to buy a hydrogen-powered car soon?
Automotive manufactures that are currently developing and demonstrating hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles include DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Although zero-emission vehicles are not yet available for sale, you can arrange to see a demonstration model at the California Fuel Cell Partnership's Sacramento facility by contacting them at (916) 371-2870 or at info@cafcp.org.
Other public transportation providers participating in fuel-cell demonstrations include Alameda-Contra Costa County Transit District in Oakland and SunLine Transit Agency in Palm Springs.

18. What steps are necessary before hydrogen fuel-cell engines are on the market?
The California Fuel Cell Partnership identifies four major goals that must be achieved for hydrogen fuel-cell technology to be available for commercial use:
· Prove the reliability and durability of the fuel-cell
· Reduce the cost of building fuel-cell engines to make them competitive with today's internal combustion engines
· Make infrastructure investments support wide-scale introduction
· Secure public acceptance to create demand for this technology.

19. Why is this program so important?
VTA and SamTrans participation in this program will test hydrogen fuel-cell technology as a viable, clean-fuel technology. And, if successful, the program will help move hydrogen-based zero-emission technology closer to becoming commercialized and available to public transit operators across the country.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, widespread use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source could help address concerns about energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Use of hydrogen in transportation and power applications can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. Hydrogen fuel-cell engines produce no harmful pollutants, thus reducing air pollution. And finally, fuel-cells are more energy efficient than combustion-based power sources.

20. Where else can I get more information about hydrogen, fuel-cells, and other zero-emission projects?
For more information on the ZEB Demonstration Program, or other VTA projects, call VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575, TDD for the hearing impaired (408) 321-2330, or visit us on the web at www.vta.org.
For more information on fuel cell technology, please visit the California Fuel Cell Partnership website at www.fuelcellpartnership.org or the U.S. Department of Energy website at www.doe.gov.

Revised 05/20/05