FTA awards $16.6 million in grants for fuel cell bus research

While we were jealously hung up on South Korea’s working electric bus system , Christmas apparently came early for a couple of lucky US fuel cell bus research projects — in the form of $16.6 million in Federal Transit Administration grants. Pasadena based Calstart snagged almost $10.2 million and will funnel 70 percent of the funds to developing the first phase of a low-cost, longer lasting fuel cell power system. Calstart will then spend its remaining $2.9 million in partnership with the Chicago Regional Transit Authority to develop and test the viability of fuel cell bus fleets in cold climates. The Center for Transportation and the Environment in Atlanta was the other project to hit the federal money gravy train. It received a hefty $6.4 million to spread across six different projects that dabble in everything from developing fast-charging 35-foot fuel cell buses, to similar lithium ion versions, to improving existing hybrid bus platforms. Federal pork for fuel cell DSLR development regrettably missed the cut. For the full scoop hit up the press release after the break. Continue reading FTA awards $16.6 million in grants for fuel cell bus research FTA awards $16.6 million in grants for fuel cell bus research originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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