FRANCAIS

September 13, 2006

The bus of the future – an advanced hydrogen-powered prototype that emits no pollution – is being tested in Winnipeg this month as part of the province’s Green and Growing strategy to make Manitoba a leader in alternative fuel technology, Energy, Science and Technology Minister Dave Chomiak announced today.

“This is one of the most technologically-advanced hydrogen-powered vehicles in the world and Manitoba is the chosen test site,” Chomiak said. “Manitoba has a growing reputation as an international clean-energy leader and our province continues on the path to becoming a centre of excellence for leading-edge hydrogen technology.”

The zero-combustion vehicle is more advanced than previous generations of hydrogen-powered buses and emits no pollution, only water vapour.

Hydrogenics Corporation, a major Canadian developer and manufacturer of fuel cells and hydrogen production systems, is the lead partner in the project. Hydrogenics developed the bus with financial support from Natural Resources Canada in collaboration with Winnipeg’s New Flyer Industries, Dynetek Industries of Calgary, and ISE Research and Maxwell Technologies of California.

“Renewable hydrogen and fuel cells are positioned to be important components of our future energy mix and we congratulate Manitoba for taking steps to be a leading jurisdiction as the vision becomes reality,” said Pierre Rivard, Hydrogenics president and CEO. “Partnering in this significant demonstration of the hydrogen fuel-cell bus is a milestone for both Manitoba and Hydrogenics as we pursue our respective pathways toward commercialization of hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies. We thank Natural Resources Canada who made this possible through their initial investment in the project.”  

Testing of the hydrogen bus demonstrates hydrogen production and refuelling in an urban environment. As partners in the demonstration, Red River College operates the bus and refuelling station, Winnipeg’s Kraus Global Inc. supplies the fuel dispenser and the province’s Sustainable Development Innovations Fund provides funding support.

"Red River College is proud to be a partner in this exciting initiative. The impact of this technology will be felt around the world, and will recognize Manitoba as a source of leadership and innovation,” said Jeff Zabudsky, president, Red River College (RRC). “Partnerships such as this allow RRC to showcase the high-quality education we deliver, and we take great pride in having our expertise utilized in a project of this scale."

“Advanced hydrogen technology presents an enormous opportunity to Manitoba,” Chomiak said. “When we take hydrogen fuel produced from Manitoba’s clean, renewable electricity and use it to power a zero-emission hydrogen vehicle, there is virtually no negative impact on the earth. This is the future of transportation and Manitoba is right at the forefront.”

The test bus is a 40-foot, Manitoba-made New Flyer Industries bus outfitted with three HyPM 65 fuel-cell power modules providing 180 kilowatts of power. A bank of ultra-capacitors also recaptures energy from the bus’s brakes, providing an additional power boost. With a full hydrogen-fuel load, the bus is capable of travelling 400 km, far enough for typical daily operation. The bus’s hydrogen-powered fuel cells produce direct-current electricity through a chemical reaction to produce primary propulsion.

The bus will be showcased and studied until Sept. 25 at venues across Winnipeg. The project will provide real-life operating experience with the bus and give Manitoba companies and students a first-hand look at leading-edge fuel-cell technology.

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Manitoba has a strong record of investment in alternative-fuel technologies including hydrogen. The province has been working in partnership with the Government of Iceland on hydrogen-fuel initiatives since Manitoba and Iceland signed a joint memorandum of understanding on hydrogen development in the fall of 2003. The province took part in cold-weather testing of a hydrogen-powered bus in the spring of 2005. Manitoba is home to both Kraus Global Inc., a leader in hydrogen technology, and New Flyer Industries, the leading manufacturer of transit buses in Canada and the United States.

Ethanol: The province is currently operating a high-ethanol E85 fuel station in Winnipeg under a joint provincial-federal initiative to provide environmentally-sound, high-ethanol gasoline for local vehicles operated by the Canadian and Manitoba governments. More than 10 per cent of provincial fleet vehicles now run on high-ethanol fuel or are powered with gas-electric hybrid engines.

Biodiesel: Manitoba’s biodiesel strategy includes doubling the tax incentive to boost the production of biodiesel and eliminating all provincial taxes on Manitoba-produced pure biodiesel. Manitoba’s goal is to achieve 10 per cent biodiesel by 2010. The province is currently working with several community-based groups to support the opening of new plants to produce biodiesel in rural Manitoba with federal funding. Manitoba has established an independent biodiesel board has consulted widely with rural business and producer groups on advancing this growing industry.

Last year, the province committed $500,000 to establish the Centre for Sustainable Transportation at the University of Winnipeg.