CHICAGO, Sept. 11 -- Chicago will be the first city in the world to use hydrogen-fueled, zero-emission bus engines in its public transit system, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said Monday. The buses are driven by electric motors, which derive their power from hydrogen fuel cells, and emit nothing except warm water vapor.
Three prototype vehicles are slated to begin service in Chicago next year. The $5.8 million program includes the buses, spares, fuel, training and technical support for the two-year demonstration. Two more buses will be added to the fleet when additional funding is secured. 'Buses must continue to play a major role in urban life,' Daley said, 'but the conventional internal combustion engine cannot. I'm proud that Chicago is leading the world in exploring this promising new technology which gives us buses without the pollution.' Ballard Power Systems has integrated its fuel cell engine into a New Flyer Industries bus, which is identical to a fleet of low-floor, air- conditioned buses that went into service in Chicago this summer. 'This new technology will allow us to help clean Chicago's air,' said Chicago Transit Authority President Robert Belcaster. 'Once the test program is proven successful, conversion of CTA's 2,000-bus fleet will be considered as buses become due for replacement.'
