Environmental Benefits
AC Transit is dedicated to improving the quality of life and the health of the environment in the communities we serve. By providing public transit to more than 227,000 riders every day, we are already keeping tens of thousands of cars off the roads.
We are also developing hybrid buses, installing thousands of solar panels to power some of our facilities, advancing zero-emission fuel cell technology and proposing a Bus Rapid Transit system for Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro.
Hybrid buses
AC Transit has been developing a 30-foot gas-electric hybrid bus for neighborhood service. The design is similar to the system used in AC Transit’s fuel cell buses and will use nickel metal hydride batteries manufactured by Cobasys to capture energy from braking for use in acceleration and propelling vehicles up hills.
A prototype will be evaluated for performance as well as for quiet operation. Upon the completion of the evaluation, we will determine whether to build nine additional gasoline hybrids or explore diesel hybrid technology as another alternative.
Fuel cells
AC Transit has been developing the HyRoad hydrogen fuel cell demonstration program – considered one of the most comprehensive of its kind in North America, featuring:
- Three quiet zero-emission hybrid electric hydrogen fuel cell buses
- A fleet of seven fuel cell passenger vehicles
- On-site hydrogen production and fueling
- On-site fleet maintenance
- On-going outside evaluations by the National Renewal Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- Public education and safety training
We are looking to expand our zero-emissions buses starting in 2009 by acquiring up to 12 new next-generation fuel cell buses and up to four new fuel cell cars.
For more information about AC Transit's alternative fuels program, click here.
