The DaimlerChrysler Citaro buses used for the trial run wholly on hydrogen gas. The hydrogen is converted to electricity to using Ballard fuel cell engines. The buses are using advanced technology that may be the foundation of a future energy solution.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Vehicles:

• produce no greenhouse gases;
• produce no smog-creating emissions;
• are quiet compared with conventional vehicles;
• are much more efficient than internal combustion engines; and
• are predicted to be cheaper in the long term to maintain and operate than internal combustion engine vehicles.

The Ballard Fuel Cell engine (including fuel cell stacks, radiator modules, cooling modules, and hydrogen diffuser and nine compressed gas cylinders containing hydrogen compressed at 350 bar) are located on the roof of the Citaro bus.

The electric motor, transmission, driveshaft and mechanical rear axle are mounted in the rear section of the bus.

Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell bus.

Bus specifications

Passenger capacity: 60-70 people (30 seats)
Net power of the Ballard fuel cell unit: >250 kW
Range: 200-300 km
Length: 12m
Weight: approximately 15 tonnes
Maximum weight of hydrogen: approximately 44kg (1890 litres).
Hydrogen purity: 99.999%

Click here to learn more about the technology behind each component of the fuel cell bus.

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Refuelling Infrastructure

BP is constructing a Hydrogen refuelling station for the purposes of the trial. The buses will be housed, refuelled and maintained by PATH Transit.

The hydrogen for the fuel cell bus trial will be produced by BP as a by-product from their oil refinery in Kwinana and piped to the BOC site next door where it will be purified and pressurised. The compressed hydrogen will then be trucked to the bus depot and off-loaded to the refuelling facility, from which the hydrogen fuel cell buses will be refuelled.

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