GE announced Monday a $13 million research partnership with the Federal Transit Administration, Ballard Power Systems and A123 Systems to develop a lightweight, battery dominant zero emissions hybrid fuel cell bus.
The research will be led by GE’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna, N.Y.
According to Mark Little, senior vice president and director, GE Global Research, advancements in hybrid propulsion systems and battery chemistry will enable cleaner, more affordable transportation alternatives that will ultimately reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The partnership is being developed under GE's ecomagination initiative to market new technologies that will meet environmental challenges. GE has pledged to more than double its investment, from $700 million to $1.5 billion during the next five years, to develop cleaner energy technologies.
The hybrid fuel cell bus is expected to be completely emissions free, have a range of 200 miles with accessories operating, and an improved fuel cell life and cost.
The research partnership will work to reduce fuel cell power requirements and improve energy storage technologies, in hopes of increasing the commercial viability of the technology.
The research partnership is part of $49 million in funding announced last week by U.S. Federal Transit Administrator James Simpson under its hydrogen fuel cell bus research and development program.
GE Global Research, and its industrial partners, will contribute approximately half of the $13 million in funding for the project. The Federal Transit Administration, through the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium, will fund the other half.