Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Trial

The Australian Government has provided $2.5 million funding in support of the trial of hydrogen fuel cell buses in Western Australia - $2 million from Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) Air Pollution in Major Cities Program and $0.5 million from the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO).

The Western Australian Department for Planning and Infrastructure, in collaboration with DaimlerChrysler and BP Australia, are trialing the operation of three hydrogen fuel cell buses. The Perth trial forms part of the NEFLEET Project where DaimlerChrysler will trial 33 hydrogen fuel cell buses worldwide (10 European cities and Perth). The Project includes a consortium of governments organised through the Cleaner Urban Transport for Europe and Ecological Cities Transport Systems, collaborations which are funded in part by the European Union.

As well as looking at the environmental benefits and issues of using hydrogen fuel cell technology, the trial will assess:

operational issues including vehicle handling and safety, life cycle pollutant and greenhouse emissions, vehicle maintenance requirements;
hydrogen production (through partnership with BP) infrastructure and use;
assessment and development of regulatory frameworks and requirements;
life cycle financial assessment of the introduction of fuel cell technology; and
issues to do with consumer reaction to and acceptance of the technology.

The trial will set up Western Australia as a leader in the developing 'hydrogen economy' reducing the time lag usually associated with the introduction of new technologies. An assessment of the issues arising from the trial will allow Australia to better address the regulatory and infrastructure barriers to introducing new vehicle technology.

The WA Government is the major sponsor of the trial (with funding of more than $8 million). DaimlerChrysler and BP are also supporting the trial.

For more information on the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Trial in Western Australia go to: http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/fuelcells/index.html