VAN HOOL obdržel objednávku na 8 autobusů na vodíkové palivové články od AC Transit s opcí na další 4. Zakázka je důležitou mezinárodní referencí pro VAN HOOL a přináší do komerční praxe využití autobusů na vodíkové palivové články pro veřejnou dopravu.

VAN HOOL dodal v období 2005/2006 již 5 autobusů na vodíkové palivové články do USA - 3 pro AC Transit, 1 pro Sunline a a 1 pro CT Transit.

Z TZ www.vanhool.be. Kompletní v angličtině.

HyFLEET:CUTE - NREL uveřejnila hodnotící zprávu o vodíkových autobusech (CZ+EN)

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Van Hool gets an order for 8 fuel cell buses for the USA. This is the largest ever U.S. order for fuel cell buses.

VAN HOOL got a new order for 8 fuel cell buses of the new generation from AC Transit and an option for another 4 units. This is the largest ever order of fuel cell buses by an American transit agency. This order is an important international reference for VAN HOOL and it brings the commercial reality of using hydrogen for emission free public transport a lot closer.

VAN HOOL delivered in the period 2005/2006 already 5 fuel cell bus gliders to the U.S. of which 3 to AC Transit, California, 1 to Sunline, San Diego, California en 1 to CT Transit, Connecticut.

These next-generation buses feature the newest technology and the latest product characteristics, based on the recent diesel powered buses delivered to the United States including to AC Transit and Salt Lake City. The Siemens electric motors are being mounted in the wheelbase to have more space available for standees and all seats, up to the rear door, are at floor level. The two doors 40’ low floor buses will be significant lighter, have a lower center of gravity and will have a better integration of the components than the first generation, including Van Hool designed roof top cooling.

Contrarily to the first 5 fuel cell buses, these new buses – just like the European counterpart – are completely integrated by Van Hool.

The vehicles will have the UTC Power PureMotionR Model 120 fuel cell system with a power output of 120 kW. The latest fuel cells from UTC Power offer 10,000 operating hours.

The positive experience of AC Transit and the consistent development of the VAN HOOL bus concepts are the basis for this new order. Because of the very high fuel efficiency, there will only be 8 instead of 9 hydrogen tanks on the roof. Nickel Metal hydride batteries that don’t need heating overnight and promise longer longevity are being used. The hybrid propulsion system is similar to the version that is now being tested with the Flemish operator “De Lijn”, convincing the American customers of the Van Hool engineering qualities. VAN HOOL is confident that this order from the United States will be instrumental in showing the way to a general introduction of the fuel cell buses and an important step to medium term commercialisation.

Both VAN HOOL and UTC Power have built this new concept on the joined experience of the first generation of fuel cell buses for AC Transit and of the fuel cell bus developed for the European market. After nearly eleven months of successful test with “de Lijn”, the bus is ready to continue its test in other European countries as originally planed. The interest for the fuel cell buses concept is still growing. VAN HOOL has been invited to present the bus and the fuel cell technology to the Intergroup on Sustainable Development of the European Parliament and on the International Transport Forum in Leipzig (Germany) where all European Ministers of transport are gathering around the theme: “Transport and Energy: the Challenge of Climate change”.

AC Transit is one of the largest transit agencies in California, serving over 67 million passengers a year throughout a 360-square mile region. For 48 years, AC Transit has been recognized as a national leader in the transit industry. In 2006, AC Transit was recognized by the San Francisco Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission with an award of excellence, for its pioneering work in the development of zero-emission technology and its leadership role in advancing the cause of environmentally sound programs for the public transport industry. More information about AC Transit is available at www.actransit.org/environment/.

Van Hool is located in Lier, Belgium, with a work force of 4,300 employees. Van Hool’s principal business activity is the manufacturing of luxury over-the-road coaches, urban transport buses, and heavy-duty truck trailers. The company – with more than 60 years of experience - has a reputation in the transportation industry for designing and building high quality, state-of-the-art, tailor-made products. Van Hool manufactures approximately 1,600 buses and coaches and as many as 4,000 trailers, road tankers and tank containers, of which 80% are exported worldwide. Van Hool entered into an exclusive U.S. distribution agreement for coaches with ABC Companies in 1987, and through this relationship, Van Hool luxury motor coaches have become the most popular European design in the United States and Canada, with more than 6,000 coaches sold to date. The last years, Van Hool has increased its presence in the North American Public Transport sector with more than 500 vehicles sold to Transit Authorities such as AC Transit (Oakland, CA), WMATA (Washington, DC), MWAA (Washington, DC), UTA (Salt Lake City, UT), RTL (Montreal), and York Rapid Transit (York, Ontario). Over 100 public transit buses will be sold and delivered in North America in 2008.

PR www.vanhool.be

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United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX), based in Hartford, Conn., provides high-technology products and services to the commercial building and the aerospace industries. Its UTC Power division, based in South Windsor, Conn., is a full-service provider of environmentally advanced power solutions. With more than 40 years of experience, UTC Power packages on-site power systems for commercial and industrial markets and is the leading developer and producer of fuel cells for transportation and space applications. www.utcpower.com.