Three buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells have arrived in Perth, Australia, ahead of one of the first major trials of the power source in the world. Beginning next month, the three DaimlerChrysler AG (Auburn Hills, MI) hydrogen fuel cell buses will be trialed on normal Perth service routes for two years, and are touted as able to improve urban air quality and reduce greenhouse gases.
The trial is in collaboration with two trial projects in Europe involving 30 buses in 10 cities. The Perth project is also collaborating with similar trials in California. The Department of the Environment and Heritage and the Australian Greenhouse Office have jointly committed $2.5 million to the trial. The Citaro buses used for the trial run wholly on hydrogen gas, which is converted to electricity using Ballard fuel cell engines.
