DOE reports on fuel cell school bus developments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In December, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released its Fuel Cell School Buses Report to Congress, fulfilling requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The report examines the potential for a fuel cell school bus development and demonstration program and assesses the process for converting natural gas infrastructure to support the use of fuel cell school buses.

In the report, the DOE said it finds that cost and durability remain critical barriers to transportation fuel cell technology readiness and that a fuel cell transit bus program, already in operation, can provide a path toward the future development and use of fuel cell school buses.

According to the report, “Although DOE is not directly pursuing a fuel cell school bus program at this time, it supports several activities that will affect the development of a future market for fuel cell school buses,” including the DOE’s Hydrogen Program and Hydrogen Learning Demonstration and the Federal Transit Administration’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program.

To view the full report, click here.