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FUEL-CELL
BUSES IN CHICAGO
Chicago
is the first North-American city to add fuel-cell buses to their fleet.
Chicago Transport Authority decided to move to fuel-cell buses because
of environmental issues related to the urban environment such as poor
air quality. Apparently, there is higher absenteeism of children from
schools in areas known to have poor air quality.
The
typical city bus emits one ton of pollutant every year. The carbon
dioxide emissions being beyond that again. In addition, only about 20%
of the energy generated in an internal combustion engine is used to
power the vehicle. The other 80% is lost in heat, friction and other
inefficiencies.
The
project to introduce fuel-cell buses to Chicago cost approximately
$9,000,000 for three buses. An average cost of $3,000,000 each. Compare
this with the average cost of a diesel bus at $300,000 and
it’s easy to see why they haven’t replaced the
entire fleet of 2,000 vehicles. The Chicago Transport Authority is
using this project to determine the total cost of operation of a fleet
of fuel-cell buses. In the meantime the fuel-cell industry is looking
for ways to reduce the initial cost of a fuel-cell bus.
Craig
Lane, senior vice-president of the Chicago Transport Authority reported
that people’s reaction to the fuel-cell bus has been very
positive. Compared to a diesel bus the noise when accelerating is much
less and the acceleration and deceleration is much smoother.
“From that perspective folks are pleased and happy with the
ride”, he said. The noise a fuel-cell bus makes on the street
or the sidewalk is also considerably lower than a diesel engine bus.
One
bus driver of the new fuel-cell buses told a reporter
“Driving the bus is really nice. I wish the entire fleet was
like this. It handles real well and gives a nice ride"
Quieter, more
efficient, smoother ride and zero pollution. Lets hope other cities
follow Chicago soon.
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