Electric performance

Citation

(2002), "Electric performance", Work Study, Vol. 51 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.2002.07951gab.010

Electric performance

Electric performance

An all-electric bus powered by zinc-air fuel cell technology from Electric Fuel Corporation has demonstrated a record 127-mile range under rigorous urban conditions. In a recent test, a pack of ultra capacitors was added to the bus, greatly increasing the system's efficiency. Conducted under the same conditions of an earlier test, improvements in the main zinc-air fuel cell combined with the addition of ultra capacitors increased the bus's range from 101 to 127 miles, a 25 per cent increase.

This drive was the last test drive planned under phase II of the Zinc-Air All Electric Transit Bus program with the Federal Transit Administration. The test drive was conducted on the former Griffith Air Force base near Rome, New York, with the bus travelling under typical city bus driving conditions, including stop and go, acceleration and constant speed. The company believes the 127 miles driven to be a world record. As a measure of comparison, the average normal full day cycle for New York City buses is less than 90 miles. The Company believes that these test results clearly indicate that all-electric buses utilising Electric Fuel's Zinc-Air technology have sufficient range to offer a practical solution for helping to eliminate bus pollution in central cities. The Electric Fuel All Electric Transit Bus is designed to operate as a full-size, zero emission 40-foot bus having a 20-ton gross vehicle weight (including passengers) and operating all standard bus, features, including air conditioning. For more information on Electric Fuel, please visit www.electric-fuel.com/