Van Hool unveiled Belgium's first zero-emission, 43-foot hybrid-electric transit bus, equipped with a UTC Power fuel cell system, at its Lier, Belgium plant.

The bus will be delivered to De Lijn, the largest bus fleet operator in Belgium, and will begin service in early June. It will operate in Belgium for six months before being leased to other transit agencies in Europe.

The design of this new three-axle, low-floor bus allows capacity of up to 104 passengers and features a Van Hool roof-top cooling system and improved locations for drive components and fuel storage.

The benefits of these buses include zero harmful tailpipe emissions, smooth and quiet operation and fuel efficiency nearly two times better than a standard diesel-powered bus.

UTC Power, which has provided fuel cell power plants for fleet transportation since 1998, is also participating in three new zero-emission transit bus projects in California and Washington, D.C., as part of a FTA $49 million cost-shared program. Van Hool hybrid-electric transit buses with UTC's Power PureMotion Model 120 fuel cell system, are currently operating in Hartford, Conn., Oakland and Palm Springs, Calif.