October 13, 2006
Mobile Energy Solutions, LLC is pleased to announce that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has selected its integrated product development team to demonstrate an advanced hybrid-electric hydrogen fuel cell bus in Alabama, Connecticut, and South Carolina. The project, valued at $13.1 million, will achieve significant progress toward the FTA's 2015 Goals for the National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCBP) over the next four years. Leveraging the federal investment, the team is providing over 50% cost match to complete the program.
Funding for the multimillion dollar NFCBP was made possible through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) which was made public law on August 10, 2005. The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs has jurisdiction over the critical transportation reauthorization and was instrumental in ensuring transportation related program funding would be available through SAFETEA-LU. The committee is chaired by Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL).
In an official announcement, FTA Administrator James Simpson said "By funding this program, Congress has allowed the transit industry to continue its long tradition as an innovator in the areas of alternative fuels and technology. Through this national program, we can consolidate - and accelerate - the process of making hydrogen buses commercially feasible as cleaner, more energy efficient alternatives". The FTA made the announcement October 12th in California.
The team is a diverse group of 16 organizations from private industry, education and the public sector representing seven states. All members of the team are members of the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) of Atlanta, Georgia who will manage the program for FTA. In addition to Mobile Energy Solutions, team members include Innovation Drive, Sabre Engineering, Hydrogenics Corporation, Nilar Corporation, Martin Marietta Composites Division, Birmingham Jefferson County Transit, University of Alabama Birmingham, Southern Clean Fuels, Connecticut DOT, CTTRANSIT, Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, South Carolina Research Authority, University of South Carolina, Central Midlands RTA and the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition.
Mobile Energy Solutions of Golden, Colorado and their technology team, completed the baseline design of a composite bodied, battery-dominant, hybrid-electric hydrogen fuel cell bus utilizing automotive size fuel cells as part of a previous FTA-sponsored program. This technology specific vehicle will be powered exclusively by domestic energy sources; including hydrogen, grid-electricity, and renewable sources, such as wind, to further reduce conventional power source requirements.
Additionally, the demonstration buses, which will be manufactured by Mobile Energy Solutions at their new Golden Colorado facility, will produce no harmful emissions. Conventional transit buses are powered by diesel engines. Diesel emissions contain particulates that are known to cause asthma and other respiratory complications. Furthermore, particulates are believed to cause other problems, including heart disease and cancer. Diesel emissions cost the public hundred of millions of dollars annually in health care costs. These costs are compounded by other economic drains such as lost work days.
Mobile Energy Solutions, LLC, headquartered in Colorado, is a leading edge entrepreneurial company that consistently works "outside the box" in the emerging industry of high technology, ultra low emission, commercial, hybrid-electric, battery-powered and fuel cell vehicles. Founded in 2004, the principals designed, engineered and manufactured the 36 EcoMark I, 45' CNG-fueled hybrid-electric shuttle buses for the Denver 16th St. Mall which, in over six years of successful revenue service have transported 125,000,000 passengers at a daily rate of 65,000. Principals of Mobile Energy Solutions also have been involved in the design and manufacture of the Northrop/LACMTA ATTB Bus as well as the Americanization of the Irisbus Civis. For information, please visit www.mobileenergysolutions.com.