Zero-Emissions Bus in Sight

"Designed and fabricated by Colorado-based Proterra, the revolutionary vehicle can travel 250 miles before needing to be recharged, runs at double the fuel economy of a diesel bus and releases nothing but water from the engine exhaust. In addition to being created and built in this country, it relies on power that is 100 percent derived from U.S. sources, thereby reducing dependence on foreign energy."

"The technology is very similar to that used in 2010 next-generation plug-in hybrid vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt. Onboard computers regulate the electrical needs of the engine by alternating between power fed by Proterra's TerraVolt energy storage system, and power derived from the hydrogen fuel cells developed by Hydrogenics Corp. These cells are fed by pressure tanks located on the vehicle's roof, and transform hydrogen and oxygen into water vapor and electricity to charge the batteries. The vehicle may also be recharged by plugging into readily available wall outlets, like many of the new hybrid cars.

'The significance of this milestone program is that we are able to harness the latest transportation technology and put it into service for the public good,' states Johnathan Frank, administrative analyst with the Transportation Department of the city of Burbank. 'Zero-emissions will help the environment, which is a critical issue in Southern California. We're excited to be the first program of its kind in the state.'"