Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) of Rochester, N.Y., has ordered three Axess EVO-FC zero emissions hydrogen fuel cell buses.
The buses, which only have water as a byproduct, are supplied by ElDorado National (California), or ENC., a provider of heavy-duty transit buses. BAE Systems, a supplier of electric propulsion systems, will supply the electric power and propulsion system that enables the buses to be free of emissions.
This will also be the first hydrogen fuel cell bus order to benefit from BAE Systems’ Gen3 electric drive system.
Axess EVO-FC buses are powered by a high-capacity fuel and deliver a range of up to 400 miles, refuels in 12-20 minutes and the only emission is water.
The Gen3 Series-H electric propulsion system from BAE Systems is integrated with a 125kW Progen hydrogen fuel cell engine from Plug Power and is additionally equipped with an electric motor, energy storage system and modular power electronics to deliver a clean mode of transportation for the buses.
The order is funded by Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Grant Program, which aims to support the transition to low- and zero-emission public transit fleets. This technology will advance RGRTA’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint and transitioning to a zero-emission fleet by 2035.
RGRTA CEO Miguel Velázquez said in a press release announcing the order, “RGRTA has reached an exciting phase of our journey towards having a fully zero-emissions bus fleet by 2035 – exploring the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology.”
“As we conduct a demonstration project on this new technology, we are focused on meeting New York State’s goal for 2035 and doing so with a solution that provides a level of reliability that RGRTA and our customers expect. I thank the Federal Transit Administration for the grant funds that support this effort and look forward to working with ENC to develop our fleet of the future," Velázquez said.
ENC is expected to deliver the buses to RGRTA in 2024.
