In November 2009, I had talked about how the first of the 20 BC Transit hydrogen fuel cell buses were arriving in Whistler, British Columbia in time for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
The 20 BC Transit hydrogen buses, powered by Ballard fuel cells, are the largest single bus fleet anywhere. Besides being zero emissions vehicles, the BC hydrogen buses have a range of over 300 miles and can be refueled in 8 to 10 minutes. Air Liquide will be supplying the compressed hydrogen gas for refueling.
Once the Olympics are over with the buses will continue to be part of the BC Canada Hydrogen Highway system, which is part of the West Coast hydrogen highway system that is being built from Whistler, BC all the way down the coast to around the San Diego area.
The 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour that took place this past summer featured a procession of hydrogen cars traveling from Chula Vista, CA (south of San Diego) to Vancouver, BC with many stops at H2 fueling stations along the way.
Joining the 20 BC Transit H2 buses at the Olympics will be a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid bus from the University of South Carolina and a fleet of Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicles. The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics will begin this Friday, February 12, 2010.