P R O J E C T S__

Current CTE Projects

The following is a sample list of the more than 90 projects that CTE has successfully managed over the past 18 years. These project summaries are organized under four general categories of activities:  

Technology Research and Demonstration Projects

TIGGER - Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction Grants

The Federal Transit Administration provided two rounds of discretionary grants to public transit agencies through the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction program, also known as TIGGER.  These grants support capital investments that will assist in reducing the energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions of public transportation systems.

CTE partnered with the transit agencies listed below to write proposals for this grant program.  CTE has helped prepare seven winning proposals to date.  Some are under contract and some are pending contract. Six of the seven winning projects are listed below:

Projects Under Contract with CTE:

    StarMetro
    Project Status
    CTE, in partnership with StarMetro transit agency in Tallahassee, FL, is managing a bus replacement project in which three conventionally fueled diesel transit buses will be replaced with three 35’ composite-body electric transit buses. The project provides a unique opportunity to test battery-powered buses in Florida’s hot and humid climate.  The buses will be charged en route using a fast-charging station, allowing the buses to remain in operation throughout the day.  The project will be implemented over a 36-month performance period, which includes 1 year of vehicle production, followed by 2 years of data collection and reporting.  StarMetro anticipates collecting and reporting performance and evaluation data through 2014 and operating the buses through 2022.

    Thunder Bay Transit Authority
    Project Status
    CTE, in partnership with Thunder Bay Transit Authority (TBTA) in Alpena, MI, is managing a pilot project in which four standard diesel transit buses will be replaced with four series hybrid electric low floor transit buses. The four diesel series hybrid buses proposed to be deployed are based on a vehicle currently operating in Traverse City. This vehicle has been operating reliably every day for three and a half years on the original lead acid battery pack.  The use of a lead acid battery pack with a patented cell level battery management system has allowed these batteries to operate daily with an expected life of four-six years.  Replacement costs on these batteries is less than 15% percent of the cost of typical nickel-metal hydride packs and roughly 6% of the cost of state-of-the-art lithium ion packs.  The vehicle has proven to be 73% more efficient than similar sized diesel buses operating the same route.

Projects Not Yet Under Contract with CTE:

    Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County
    Project Status
    RTC Ride serves the citizens of Reno and Sparks, NV, along with unincorporated areas of Washoe County.  The goal of their project is to replace three RTC Ride diesel transit buses with three 35’ composite-body fast charge battery electric buses, which will operate on a circulator route in Reno.  This project provides an opportunity to test these battery-powered buses in an extreme desert climate, which requires RTC Ride to use oversized A/C units on their buses.  These buses will operate on a downtown circulator route providing service to tourists and students, connecting the downtown casino resort district to the University of Nevada – Reno.  The buses will be charged en route using a fast-charging station, allowing the buses to remain in operation throughout the day.

    Central Maryland Regional Transit Corporation
    Project Status
    In coordination with Howard County, Howard Research and Development Corporation, the Central Maryland Regional Transit Corporation, and the State of Maryland, three diesel body-on-chassis vehicles with lightweight, purpose-built electric buses.  The electric buses will be fueled through an inductive charger that will be located in downtown Columbia, MD.  This project will demonstrate and provide an opportunity to evaluate the energy efficiency and cost effectiveness of non-contact inductive recharging of electric bus batteries.  The inductive charger will provide energy to the batteries through electromagnetic induction.

    An “Energy Information Station” will be designed and built through a partnership with the University of Maryland and the Howard Community College.  The Energy Information Station will provide real-time information on the charging process including the recording of emission reductions and cost savings.  The Energy Information Station, and a state-of-the-art Transit Shelter, will be located adjacent to the inductive charging system in the Downtown Transit hub.

    The electric buses will operate on Howard Transit’s “Green” route, which serves the Columbia Mall, the Village of Wilde Lake, the Howard Community College, and the Howard County General Hospital.

    VIA Metropolitan Transit
    Project Status
    CTE and the University of Texas at Austin - Center for Electromechanics collaborated with VIA to secure funding for a pilot project that will replace three standard diesel transit buses with three composite-body, zero emission, quick charge electric buses in daily urban transit service. Considering that a conventional 40’ diesel bus averages 3.8 mpg and current diesel-electric hybrid buses average 4.8 mpg, the transit buses identified in this proposal offer a minimum of 400% increase in fuel economy.

    VIA will use a 100% renewable energy source for the battery quick charge infrastructure at the transit terminal.  The infrastructure will be used to recharge the batteries of the proposed buses once each route cycle.  Grid sourced electrical energy used to recharge the bus batteries shall be augmented with solar energy collected with panels procured and installed under this project.  All of the grid electricity consumed by VIA is currently generated with wind turbines.

    Seneca
    Project Status
    CTE, in partnership with Clemson Area Transit in Seneca, SC, is managing a bus replacement project in which three conventionally fueled diesel transit buses will be replaced with three 35’ Fast Charge Battery Electric transit buses, operating as a fare-free service in Seneca, SC.  Seneca’s transit fleet is operated by Clemson Area Transit (CAT), the largest public fare-free transit service in the U.S., serving an estimated two million passengers per year.  Deploying zero-emission all-electric buses provides a unique opportunity for FTA to demonstrate the viability of these technologies to reduce energy consumption and emissions and to establish the nation’s first transit system with no carbon footprint.  The project will be implemented over a 36-month performance period, which includes 1 year of vehicle production, followed by 2 years of data collection and reporting.

National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Development Program
Round I:
In 2006 CTE was selected to collaborate with FTA and a consortium of public and private entities on the design and build of a cutting edge fuel cell hybrid bus and a technology demonstration in a variety of service modes and climates. The project began with the goal of designing a safe, reliable, and efficient battery dominant fuel cell hybrid transit bus, designed to utilize advanced manufacturing and electric drive technology, while doubling the fuel efficiency of a typical transit bus. Proterra achieved these design goals through a lightweight composite-body and highly efficient electric drive technologies, while also designing for future maintainability and low operating costs. CTE closely managed the project to ensure success while accounting for the challenges of a clean-sheet research and development program. To help ensure a safe demonstration program, CTE coordinated a comprehensive System Safety Plan documenting safety features, training, and a program-level hazard analysis.

The bus was first demonstrated in transit service in Columbia, SC, in collaboration with the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and the University of South Carolina. Following the demonstration in Columbia, the bus transitioned to Austin, TX, where it will provide a year of transit service with Capital Metro.  Fueling infrastructure for the Austin demonstration is being provided through a collaborative effort with The University of Texas at Austin.

Worldwide Fuel Cell Bus Survey
Project Complete
CTE has completed a Report on Worldwide Hydrogen Bus Demonstrations as part of the National Fuel Cell Bus Program.  This project was initiated in order to maximize the benefit of recent fuel cell bus demonstrations.  The report gathers information on these demonstrations in one place and presents trends and broader implications for commercialization efforts. As part of this effort, CTE conducted a rider survey to highlight the added value clean transportation technology brings to the bus industry.  The Worldwide Report assists policy makers and industry leaders as they focus their resources and make informed decisions about future fuel cell bus investments.

Columbia, SC Hydrogen Fueling Station
Project Complete
CTE, in partnership with the University of South Carolina – City of Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative, South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), Gas Technology Institute (GTI), EngenuitySC, and others, recently completed a project to install and commission a hydrogen fueling station in downtown Columbia.  Station design and development commenced in May 2008, and the station was operational in advance of the National Hydrogen Association annual conference, held in Columbia in late March 2009.  The station provides compression, storage, and dispensing of high-pressure gaseous hydrogen; planned subsequent phases of the project intend to provide the capability to generate hydrogen on site.

Round II:
In a second round of National Fuel Cell Bus Program funding announced in 2010, CTE was appointed to manage several applied research projects with participation from fuel cell manufacturers, engineering firms, universities and transit agencies throughout the country.  These projects, which include international outreach and communications, technology development and enhancement, and full-scale bus demonstrations, are outlined here:

Advanced Composite Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration
Project Complete
CTE is working with multiple partners to develop and demonstrate Proterra’s advanced 35’ fuel cell hybrid vehicle at the District Department of Transportation (DC Circulator) and CMRTA in Columbia, SC. The bus technology, originally developed as part of the National Fuel Cell Bus Program, has already achieved great success and proven results.  The improved design featured in this demonstration is expected to achieve a 10% improvement in efficiency over the previous model. The updates will improve drive quality and reliability as well. The integration of a Ballard fuel cell system will provide 100% more power and last 25% longer than the previous system, and the power electronics are expected to be significantly more robust and reliable, which will greatly improve availability and reduce downtime.

ECO Saver IV Hybrid Electric Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration
Project Status
CTE, under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program, has contracted with FTA to demonstrate an electric fuel cell bus at The Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, Ohio.  DesignLine USA will integrate a state-of-the-art Ballard fuel cell system with its proprietary, hybrid electric powertrain and fuel/energy storage system into a commercially viable heavy-duty transit bus.  The bus will be demonstrated at OSU over a two-year period under a range of duty cycles.  As part of the project, OSU will install a hydrogen dispensing facility behind the Center for Automotive Research.

This project will explore new possibilities in lightweight design by reexamining the existing chassis currently being used for hybrid diesel for any opportunities to save weight.  DesignLine will integrate a new model of rear axle and propulsion system to reduce the overall weight without sacrificing strength or design flexibility.  Any new lightweight developments will be able to migrate to mass production in DesignLine’s regular vehicle fleet.

Birmingham Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration
Project Status
CTE has contracted with FTA under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program to manage a fuel cell electric bus demonstration in Birmingham, AL.  EVAmerica will build an advanced battery dominant fuel cell electric transit bus, which will be demonstrated in regular revenue service operated by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA).  Hydrogen fueling infrastructure will be installed at the BJCTA maintenance facility to support the bus during the two-year demonstration.  This demonstration program leverages funding from both this NFCBP Award and funding through the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to provide hydrogen infrastructure, hydrogen fuel and independent pre-delivery bus testing.

The bus will be deployed with a different battery pack technology during the first and second years to give a side-by-side comparison of two different battery technologies in  transit service.  Initially the bus will be deployed utilizing an advanced Altairnano lithium titanate battery pack.  For the second year, EVAmerica will install an advanced technology lead-acid battery pack, as was programmed in the original UAB project.  With the bus operating in the same environment on both battery packs, the project team will be able to make a clear comparison of the real-life results of a less costly lead-acid battery pack versus the state-of-the-art lithium titanate battery pack.

Coordination of Communications and Outreach
Project Status
CTE is coordinating complementary information gathering and outreach activities designed to maintain and increase awareness on the state of fuel cell transit bus commercialization.  CTE will complete three tasks under this project:

  • A Worldwide Report of hydrogen bus demonstrations operated anywhere around the world from 2008 through 2012. The report, which will build upon CTE’s 2009 NFCBP Worldwide Report, will compile the results of current projects and technology demonstrations and draw conclusions about the state of fuel cell bus commercialization.
  • Facilitation of the National and International Fuel Cell Bus Working Groups.  The goal of these groups is to promote information sharing and collaboration across U.S. and global fuel cell transit bus projects. 
  • Management of the International Fuel Cell Bus Website. The website will compile key findings from active fuel cell bus demonstrations and serve as an interactive forum for transit agencies and other partners to increase their understanding of the benefits, challenges, and resources available to the fuel cell bus community.

Fuel Cell DC/DC Development Program
Project Status
CTE is working with Embedded Power Control to develop an 18 kW DC/DC converter suitable for interfacing an equivalently rated fuel cell system to a vehicle traction battery system. For this on-road vehicle application, a compact, reliable, cost effective design is required which meets the general automotive environmental specifications. The design efficiency goal –greater than 95%–will optimize the energy produced by the fuel cell and enhanced the general acceptance of the fuel powered vehicle by improving its range.

The DC/DC converter will be bench tested and ultimately placed into service on Proterra’s 35’ Composite Hybrid Electric Fuel Cell bus built as part of the NFCBP, and currently being demonstrated in Austin, TX.

Austin Demonstration Enhancements
Project Status
As a continuation of the fuel cell bus demonstration in Columbia, SC, CTE is coordinating an additional demonstration for Proterra’s first fuel cell hybrid bus in Austin, TX.

Defense Logistics Agency Projects
These projects are part of a series of pilot projects to demonstrate the economic, operational, and environmental benefits of powering material handling equipment with fuel cells. The project will provide the Department of Defense (DOD) with the technical and business case data necessary to achieve its Energy Policy Act (EPACT 2005) objectives.

Fort Lewis Hydrogen Fuel Cell Pilot Program
Project Status
CTE has contracted to provide a turnkey hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration project at the U.S. Army’s Forces Command at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, WA. The project includes the key elements of a clean hydrogen energy cycle:

  • A renewable energy supply in the form of recovered wastewater treatment plant digester gas
  • Local hydrogen generation via digester gas cleanup and reformation
  • Bulk hydrogen storage, transport, and dispensing
  • Hydrogen load in the form of 19 fuel cell powered electric forklifts and one fuel cell powered shuttle bus

The project consists of approximately 16 months of infrastructure and vehicle development/deployment followed by a year of pilot program operations and data collection. The hydrogen generation system, designed and supplied by Gas Technology Institute (GTI), consists of three key components: digester gas cleanup, biomethane reformation, and hydrogen purification.  Air Products is providing hydrogen transportation, compression, storage, and dispensing equipment, as well as hydrogen backup.  Plug Power Inc. is providing 19 class 1 GenDrive™ fuel cell units to power a fleet of sit-down lift trucks, to be used at the logistics facility during the 24 month pilot period.  Proterra is delivering a 35’, composite-body, plug-in, battery-dominant fuel cell hybrid electric bus.

DDJC Hydrogen Fuel Cell Pilot Program
Project Status
CTE is managing a contract for the development of a Department of Defense (DOD) hydrogen pilot program at the Defense Depot San Joaquin (DDJC), in Tracy, CA. The project includes development of a hydrogen pilot at DDJC utilizing twenty hydrogen powered forklifts for warehousing activities and an electrolysis-based hydrogen generation system using renewable energy.  The project consists of approximately 12 months of infrastructure and vehicle development and deployment followed by two years of pilot program operations and data collection.

Extended Range Hydrogen Utility Vehicle
Project Status
DLA selected a research team led by CTE for a two-phase project to identify and apply novel on board hydrogen storage materials, processes, and power system designs to extend the operating range of electric utility vehicles. The CTE team includes Gas Technology Institute (GTI), The University of Texas at Austin – Center for Electromechanics, and Hydrogenics Corporation.

In Phase I of the project, the team conducted an engineering design analysis to identify and compare potential hydrogen storage technologies, fuel cell options, electrical energy storage, and powertrain architectures for use on an electric utility vehicle. The analysis identified trade-offs in performance for each of the options, including weight, volume, cost, safety, and commercialization potential and resulted in a detailed design and report comparing the resulting vehicle versus a vehicle operating on current state-of-the-art batteries. Based on the results of the comparative analysis, the team selected an 8.5 kW fuel cell hybrid configuration including 350-bar high-pressure hydrogen storage and ultracapacitors for energy storage as the best drive train option for this application.

The team was selected to build, test, and demonstrate the vehicles under Phase II of the program. Performance and reliability data was collected throughout the 12-month pilot period for evaluation and potential for future markets.

Hybrid Hydrogen Yard Tractor
Project Status
DLA selected a research team led by CTE for the first phase of a two-phased project to identify and apply novel on board hydrogen storage materials, processes, and power system designs to extend the operating range of hydrogen yard tractors. The CTE team included Gas Technology Institute (GTI), The University of Texas at Austin – Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM), and Hydrogenics Corporation.

In Phase I, the team conducted an engineering design analysis to identify and compare potential hydrogen storage technologies, such as metal hydrides, adsorbents, chemical hydrides and physical storage for use on a fuel cell yard tractor. The analysis identified trade-offs in performance for each of the options, including weight, volume, and onboard (or operating) energy, and resulted in a detailed report comparing vehicle operation with fuel cell/on board hydrogen storage versus traditional diesel engines in terms of length of service per charge or tank of fuel (extended range), power available, and refueling or recharging times. The team then developed a complete power system design package, integrating the design into the proposed yard tractor.

Southeastern Electric Vehicle Readiness Project
Project Status
CTE has been selected by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities Initiative to lead a project that will establish a comprehensive, tri-state (Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina) readiness and deployment strategy for electric vehicles (EV) and EV infrastructure and begin implementation of the community-based Southeast Regional EV Deployment Readiness Program.

The project, one of 16 selected for funding by DOE, represents a collaboration between CTE, the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition, and the Middle Georgia Clean Cities Coalition, and supports DOE’s goal of bringing electric vehicles to communities across the nation.

EPA/National Clean Diesel Campaign Project
Project Status
CTE has been awarded funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Clean Diesel Campaign to lead a project that will reduce diesel emissions from the ground support equipment (GSE) at the new all electric, LEED-certified terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

CTE is partnering with Delta Air Lines to repower 11 FMC Container Loaders and 24 TUG Belt Loaders, replacing the diesel engine, transmission, and cooling systems with battery packs, electric motors, and an electric control system in each unit.

DeKalb County/Metropolitan Atlanta Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Project
Project Status
CTE, in partnership with the Clean Cities-Atlanta Coalition, is managing this program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  The goal of this program is to expand the use of alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles in the metropolitan Atlanta region.  Deemed a non-attainment area for ozone (including its precursors nitrogen oxides [NOx] and volatile organic compounds [VOCs]) and particulate matter (PM2.5) by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the region will benefit greatly from the lower emission alternative fuels and vehicles.

The program has three primary components:  First, to expand the supply of alternative fuels by implementing a facility to convert landfill gas (LFG) to compressed natural gas (CNG) at a DeKalb County landfill; Second, to increase the availability of alternative fuels by implementing six, public-access, CNG fueling stations in the metropolitan Atlanta region; and third, to reduce the demand for petroleum by deploying 200 CNG, diesel hybrid, and hydraulic hybrid vehicles, for a variety of functions including passenger shuttles, sanitation, and freight delivery, in the fleets of a number of public and corporate entities.

Georgia Hybrid School Bus Project
Project Status
CTE, in partnership with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, GDOT,  and the Georgia Tech Research Institute, is managing a pilot project in which eight standard diesel school buses will be replaced with buses utilizing a diesel hybrid electric propulsion system for the purposes of measuring and evaluating performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions characteristics in comparison with the standard diesel vehicles.  The project will deploy four buses in each of two Georgia school systems located within air quality non-attainment areas.

Flywheel Energy Storage and Conservation
Project Status
CTE, in partnership with Test Devices, Inc., (TDI), is managing a project to develop and test a prototype flywheel-based energy recovery and storage system.  TDI is a Massachusetts corporation engaged in the testing of jet engine and power generation turbines, specifically “Disk Fatigue Life Testing”.  This testing uses a great deal of electrical power for long periods of time.  In 2007, the company consumed 3,498,500 kW-hr of electricity in their operations, equivalent to the electricity use of 328 households.

Working with CTE, TDI will develop prototype energy storage technology and equipment at its facilities to capture and reuse the energy necessary for the company’s core process.  The new technology and equipment is expected to save approximately 80% of the energy used in the TDI process, reducing total annual consumption of power by approximately 60%, saving approximately two million kilowatt-hours annually.

Clean Cities–Atlanta
Project Status
CTE supports the Clean Cities–Atlanta coalition through management of a portion of the coalition’s administrative and accounting work. This effort includes submission of Quarterly Alternative Fuel Price Reports for the Atlanta area to the Department of Energy (DOE), completion of the DOE’s Annual Clean Cities Coalition Questionnaire, preparation and distribution of quarterly coalition newsletters, maintenance of the Clean Cities-Atlanta website, and recording of the bi-monthly coalition Board meeting minutes, and management of the organization’s accounting procedures. CTE has performed similar administrative work for Clean Cities-Atlanta since 2003.

City of Atlanta–Mayor's Office of Sustainability
Project Status
CTE provides grant administration and program management assistance to the City of Atlanta–Mayor’s Office of Sustainability.  This effort includes coordination of the City’s involvement in several US Department of Energy grants, including the Southeast Regional EV Readiness Planning Program and Clean Cities Atlanta Petroleum Reduction Program.  CTE has provided assistance to the City of Atlanta - Mayor’s Office of Sustainability since 2009.

EPA Emerging Technology Verification
Project Status
CTE, in partnership with Truck Emission Control Technologies, Inc., (TECT) is managing a project that will test the performance of diesel emissions reduction technology on truck fleets in San Antonio, TX, and Indianapolis, IN. This project is funded through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Emerging Technologies Program and will be based on products developed by TECT, a developer and manufacturer of particulate control technology located in Anderson, IN. The Texas Diesel Testing and Research Center at the University of Houston was selected to perform laboratory emission testing for the validation of the new technology in real-world applications.

The project will focus on the retrofit of seven trucks in Houston and Indianapolis, followed by chassis dynamometer testing and data acquisition on the road. The technology is based on a proprietary composite wire mesh media for the collection of sub-micron and nano-size particles at high efficiencies.  The system is augmented with an exhaust gas recirculation for the reduction of nitrogen oxides. Anticipated outcomes include the broad commercialization of the new product, alleviating particle and smog pollution in non-attainment areas in the country, as well as the creation of new jobs.

Transportation Demand Management Projects

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) provides alternatives to driving alone and includes a broad range of strategies and actions. TDM is used in many communities and regions to help manage the demand for, and improve the performance and efficiency of, their transportation systems. TDM efforts are often focused on work trips, but are also applicable to non-work trips. TDM can offer use of non-drive alone shared ride travel options such as carpooling, vanpooling, and public transit as well as encourage use of non-motorized travel such as biking or walking. Through use of teleworking and compressed work schedules, some trips can be eliminated entirely or shifted to a less congested time of day.   TDM options can help reduce congestion and provide quantifiable reductions in mobile source pollutants, which lead to smog.  Commuters also report numerous benefits including reduced commute-related stress and lower commuting costs.

CTE has nationally recognized expertise in developing and evaluating TDM strategies that have measurable results including, but not limited to:

  • Calculating the qualitative and quantitative impacts of program areas such as media/marketing campaigns, employer and commuter outreach services, and regional programs and services
  • Establishing consistent regional evaluation protocols and
    reporting procedures
  • Developing and implementing structured evaluation plans
    including enhanced data collection tools, methodologies, and
    performance measures resulting in more rigorous and inclusive assessment of TDM effectiveness

GDOT Measurement and Evaluation
Since 1999, CTE has led the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) measurement and evaluation of TDM programs in the Atlanta region. CTE, along with a national team of TDM experts, has provided recommendations to assist GDOT program managers and other TDM decision-makers in the region in making appropriate decisions for funding, program focus, and resource allocations. CTE’s expertise in the measurement and evaluation of TDM program is nationally recognized and the GDOT evaluation program is an acknowledged leader in the practices of TDM evaluation, policy development, and implementation.

GDOT Branding
As part of the GDOT Measurement and Evaluation Program, CTE was appointed to lead an effort to explore the benefits of developing a single brand identity for the statewide Commute Options/TDM activities supported by GDOT. CTE conducted a review of national TDM brands and programs and developed an inclusive statewide approach to evaluate Georgia’s existing TDM brand and test other potential brand names for the program. The ultimate goal of the statewide branding effort is to identify a brand that most effectively promotes awareness of the TDM programs as well as the services available, resulting in more commuters choosing to take action by using a commute alternative.

Evaluation of Triangle J TDM Programs FY2010
CTE led an effort to develop recommendations for a strategy to evaluate TDM activities for the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) in the Triangle Region of North Carolina. The project achieved three broad objectives: 1) conducted an in-depth analysis to estimate the impacts of existing programs; 2) recommended TDM service enhancements; and 3) developed an evaluation methodology for TJCOG to estimate impacts of TDM programs in the future.

Statewide Rideshare and Vanpool Program in Arizona
CTE assisted the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Transportation Research Center in investigating the potential for a statewide ridesharing and vanpool program for Arizona. The product of the research was an implementation plan that included key corridors, start-up considerations, staffing, and operational guidelines, as well as funding options for capitalizing the statewide program.

Missoula (Montana) in Motion
CTE was part of a project team to provide TDM strategic planning, program evaluation, and assessment services to the Missoula in Motion TDM Project in Missoula, Montana. The work focused on inventorying and assessing program participation, performance, and progress and culminated in a 5-year strategic plan.

Association for Commuter Transportation
From June 2004-June 2007, CTE provided management services to the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT), a growing, 850-member, association of organizations and individuals who share in the commitment to develop balanced, effective transportation systems around the country. ACT’s primary mission is to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by encouraging the use of, and educating the public about, alternatives to solo commuting.

The Southern Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Coalition
The Southern Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Coalition (SHFCC) was a funding mechanism by which CTE provided seed funding to hydrogen-based projects in the early stages of technology development and deployment. The projects and activities of SHFCC promote interstate cooperation and regional job growth to meet the needs of a hydrogen and fuel cell market that is expected to grow beyond $15 billion by 2015.

Seed funding is typically used to carry out the initial stages of a project, validate a concept, or deploy/enable an early market application. To those ends, a project may include, but is not limited to, data collection, surveying, market analysis, modeling, simulation, strategic planning, and/or equipment purchase. The projects may include medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fuel cell applications and the hydrogen infrastructure necessary to support these applications. Projects that promote transit applications are preferred. The SHFCC provides team organization and project development support, including assistance with comprehensive proposal development, preliminary project validation, and project team commitments.

UT-CEM/Williams Hybrid Power Flywheel
Project Complete
SHFCC awarded the Flywheel Demonstration Seed Project Grant to the University of Texas – Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM).  Their proposal, “Assessment of Flywheel Technology Emerging from the Formula One Racing Community and its Benefits to the U.S. Transit Bus Market,” seeks to evaluate the performance and cost benefits of Williams Hybrid Power’s flywheel technology for heavy-duty vehicles in the U.S. market.  Williams Hybrid Power Ltd. (WHP), located in England, has developed a novel, patented technology aimed at providing a cost effective, environmentally friendly solution for mobile energy recovery and storage in flywheels.  A unique, patented feature is the Magnetically Loaded Composite, which in essence means that they can produce a wholly composite flywheel that integrates the magnets of the electric motor into the composite.  This allows for a flywheel system that can be made significantly smaller and lighter than conventional flywheels, and also runs at very high efficiencies of between 97-99%.  The program objective is to determine if this new flywheel energy storage technology provides next-generation fuel cell transit buses with either improved performance or reduced operational cost, or both.

Vehicle Modeling and Simulation
Project Complete
CTE has developed an effective Advanced Vehicle Knowledge System (AVKS) to provide decision support and vehicle operation characterization.  The tool encompasses multidisciplinary modeling, simulation, and design exploration/optimization to allow for establishment and consideration of the many different variables at the very outset of projects and project proposals.  These system-level design decisions will allow for educated decision-making, proposal justification, and transfer of early design data to SHFCC project participants. This system can be effectively used during the design stage by a manufacturer, and also during the implementation by a transit agency or project sponsor to provide a basis for educated decision-making and technology understanding.

Texas DOT Strategic Plan for Hydrogen Vehicles and Fueling Stations
Project Complete
The SHFCC recently led the completion of a strategic plan that defines a path for TxDOT to facilitate the introduction of hydrogen infrastructure and vehicles as a fuel in Texas.  The plan was created by a panel of representatives from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, in addition to several TxDOT managers. The eleven individuals who served on the panel have a collective hydrogen-related research, demonstration, implementation, and commercialization experience totaling more than 100 years.

UAB Fuel Cell Bus Program Development
Project Complete
The SHFCC has provided seed funding to a team led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to develop a white paper that describes the concept of designing, building, demonstrating, and evaluating the performance and commercial viability of different fuel cell hybrid electric power train design approaches.  The plan is to demonstrate transit buses at different southern locations over a 3-5 year period.

Phase I buses will use a smaller fuel cell system, resulting in a battery-dominant design.  The first bus will be deployed on the UAB campus.  A second bus will be deployed on the same route, with a optimized fuel cell power and battery storage.

Georgetown University Next Generation Bus
Project Complete
In response to a request for proposal released in 2007 by Georgetown University for its “Generation III Methanol Fuel Cell Transit Bus Integration and Test” program, a team is now under contract to complete Phase One of the work schedule.  The “Bus Integration Team,” which will be managed by CTE/SHFCC, consists of EVAmerica, LLC, Georgia Tech Research Institute, SKI, Inc., Electro Energy, Inc., and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Fuel Cell Lift Truck Demonstration
Project Complete
As a result of seed funding from the SHFCC, a CTE member demonstrated and evaluated the performance of a hydrogen fuel cell power system in a lift truck application at a factory in Morristown, Tennessee.  The project team procured and modified a lift truck with a complete General Hydrogen fuel cell system consisting of a fuel cell stack, an ultracapacitor bank, and hydrogen storage equipment. The test vehicles are now operated, maintained, and monitored by the manufacturing facility.  Data was collected on test vehicle performance (power, reliability, ease of use, etc.), fuel efficiency, and environmental impact.  This data was compared with the same data collected from control (electric and LPG powered) vehicles operated under identical conditions.  Comparative results were evaluated in terms of economic and environmental costs and benefits.  The hydrogen fuel cell lift truck resulted in a return on investment of less than two years.

University of Texas Flex-fuel HICE Hybrid Shuttle Bus
Project Complete
A team consisting of The Texas H2 Coalition, CTE, Ft. Bend County Transit Authority, Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and the University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM) is working together on a project that will demonstrate and evaluate a 22-foot shuttle bus that uses a flex fuel hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE).  The performance and maintenance of the vehicle will be evaluated under normal operating conditions in Fort Bend and, depending upon available funding, in Austin as well. The project builds upon current collaborative program activities by UT-CEM and GTI.

Alternative Fueling Feasibility at the San Antonio Airport
Project Complete
SHFCC provided funding to determine the feasibility and strategic implications of a plan to develop and build alternative fueling infrastructure that would include three types of fuel: hydrogen, CNG, and gasoline.  The refueling station would be constructed on land wholly owned by the City of San Antonio at the International Airport site.

Preliminary Flywheel Design Completed for Fuel Cell Transit Bus
Project Complete
The University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM) has now completed the preliminary design of a flywheel energy storage system for a fuel cell-powered 40-foot transit bus. The work was made possible by funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the FY2006 Southern Fuel Cell Coalition (SHFCC) program. The flywheel program began with the completion of a review of current design approaches for fuel cell powered transit buses that focused on fuel cell performance, drive train architecture, energy storage systems, and power electronics.

Atlantic Station Fuel Cell Power Plan
Project Complete
The SHFCC convened an Advisory Panel consisting of industry, national laboratory, and academic experts to provide a clear and impartial implementation plan for the Atlantic Station redevelopment project to obtain, install, and operate approximately 4 ½ MW of fuel cell power over ten years.

Atlanta Anaerobic Digester Gas Reformation Project
Project Complete
Work has been completed on a two-month project to study the feasibility of installing an anaerobic digester gas (ADG) reformer at the City of Atlanta’s R.M. Clayton wastewater treatment plant.  The reformer would convert unused and wasted ADG into pure hydrogen, which can be sold to industrial gas distributors or end users, with excess available to fuel city transit buses and other fleet vehicles. 

The project tested the commercial, technical, and financial viability of the reformer with promising economic and environmental results.

CARTA Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration - Data Collection
Project Complete
The Chattanooga Area Regional Transit Authority (CARTA) operates a fleet of 12 electric buses powered by lead-acid batteries. The buses are scheduled for deployment on an extended route for which the batteries have insufficient capacity. CARTA is considering replacing the batteries with hydrogen-powered fuel cell systems. To test this concept, SHFCC seed funding helped organize a team of SHFCC members to collect data on the energy and power requirements of the buses’ operating profile.  The team conducted the data collection and analysis and submitted a report in May 2006 summarizing the findings, including details on an appropriate fuel cell system replacement pack.

Past Projects

DARPA Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Program
To serve the evolving needs of our national defense, Congress created the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technologies (EHV) Program in 1992. Electric and hybrid propulsion systems, which are cleaner and more efficient than conventional systems, have great potential to solve military issues relating to performance, stealth, and fuel efficiency. Electric and hybrid electric systems also have great potential in the commercial marketplace.

Under creative management by the Defense Advanced Research projects Agency (DARPA) of the Department of Defense (DOD), the EHV program competitively selected seven regional advanced transportation technology consortia. The consortia organized industry teams to recommend and develop technology solutions, provide additional project management, and ensure that participants would share the cost of developing and implementing advanced vehicle technologies. This fast-tracked partnership initiated over 300 projects with 450 organizations.

These projects provided a roadmap to market and helped pave the way for commercialization of each of the technologies.
730 Peachtree Street • Suite 330 • Atlanta, GA 30308 • Phone: 678-244-4150 • Fax: 678-244-4151
Copyright © 2008 Center for Transportation and the Environment