A Worldwide Revolution in Green Transportation: Fuel Cell Technology for Transit Bus Service

Emerging environmental awareness and growing public concern for efficient, safe, reliable, yet environmentally friendly, public transportation systems are a part of a growing trend in today’s global transportation community. This paper’s topic, green transportation, encompasses important social issues, while helping illuminate their relation to public transportation agencies’ increasingly important role in society. The direction and implementation of public transportation strategy and policy directly affect the quality of life for all stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to offer information that may directly impact the future growth strategies of public transit agencies. Major social issues such as air pollution, public health, and global warming are of primary concern to everyone. In addition our national dependence on foreign oil is of economic concern. As we start the 21st century, green transportation is becoming the new mantra for public transit authorities. In this dynamic global context, increasing government incentives and the development of emerging technologies pose a complex backdrop for today’s public transportation leaders responsible for decision-making. Today’s public transportation leaders are responsible not only in terms of fiduciary accountability, but must carefully consider the social impact of their decisions on future generations. To help address these problems, this forward-looking brief examines global green transportation trends and how current US and California environmental legislation/regulation and public monies are combining with emerging fuel cell vehicle technology to revolutionize green transportation into a viable and sustainable reality – starting with new public transit bus initiatives now underway in cities around the world. Although the emerging fuel cell technology is currently ten times more expensive than existing technologies, the purpose of this brief is to provide the latest fuel cell bus information, the feasibility of hydrogen fuel cell buses, and examples of on-going projects. Furthermore, with the perspective that we are in the midst of a global transportation revolution, this paper examines why public transportation in general, and transit bus transportation in particular, have been pushed to the forefront of this transportation revolution and how today’s public transit leaders are in a pivotal position to drive change. Finally, this paper hopes to encourage more urban transit authorities at the leading edge of the green transportation movement to accelerate ongoing efforts and take optimum advantage of clean fuel cell technology and government funding to help clean up public transit diesel bus pollution.