The prototype of a near production-standard bus powered by fuel cell technology is now undergoing tests at the Mercedes-Benz plant near Mannheim, Germany. This fuel cell-powered bus is the first of a limited production series of 30 Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell urban buses, which were sold in Amsterdam last year to the 10 European transport operators taking part in the European Fuel Cell Bus Project promoted by the European Union.
The vehicles are due to be delivered in groups of three vehicles to each of the customers over the course of the coming year. Bus orders have been received from 17 European cities, but only 10 orders totaling 30 buses can be supplied at present, according to Dr. Ferdinand Panik, fuel cell project manager.
The Citaro is scheduled to go into revenue operations in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Barcelona and Madrid, Spain; Hamburg and Stuttgart, Germany; London; Luxembourg; Porto, Portugal; Stockholm, Sweden; and Reykjavik, Iceland.
The first buses, costing approximately $1.2 million each, are scheduled for delivery in late 2002. They will be tested under normal traffic conditions in revenue service over a period of two years. Troubleshooting, consulting, and maintenance are included in the purchase price.
In the U.S., AC Transit of Oakland, Calif., and SunLine Transit of Thousand Palms, Calif., are preparing to start demonstrating fuel cell buses in regular service by the end of 2004. This project is being funded by a combination of state and federal grants.
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