FTA grants $12M to California fuel cell bus projects

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is providing $12 million for several major advanced fuel cell bus projects to CALSTART, an advanced transportation organization. The projects will advance fuel cell activities in Oakland, San Francisco, the Coachella Valley and Southern California. At a ceremony hosted by Thousand Palms, Calif.-based SunLine Transit Thursday, FTA Administrator James Simpson said, “Through this national program, we can consolidate and accelerate the process of making hydrogen buses commercially feasible as cleaner, more efficient alternatives.” The CALSTART projects will enhance and build upon existing fuel cell bus demonstration programs at AC Transit in Oakland and at SunLine Transit in the Coachella Valley. UTC Power will provide the propulsion system for the SunLine and AC Transit buses. New Flyer Industries will develop a purpose-built bus specifically designed for fuel cell applications for the SunLine project. CALSTART is the California operating division of WestStart-CALSTART.