Vehicles transport passengers at the ABD Corridor
Three new Marcopolo Viale BRS, buses powered by hydrogen, are conducting urban transport in the Greater São Paulo at Corredor São Mateus-Jabaquara (ABD Corridor) including the Diadema/Morumbi stretch. The vehicles are part of the pioneering Brazilian Hydrogen Bus Project.
According to Paulo Corso, director of commercial operations of Marcopolo, Brazil is the first country in the Southern Hemisphere to produce a hydrogen-powered bus. "Only Germany, Canada, United States and now Brazil, have the ability to produce this type of vehicle. The highlight is that, thanks to the work of Marcopolo engineering, the vehicle has the same passenger capacity than a conventional diesel model, which differentiates it from other buses powered by cleaner fuels where the capacity is greatly reduced," explains the executive.
"Today Marcopolo is technologically prepared to produce bodies for all kinds of buses powered by alternative energy. We have developed units for electric vehicles, hybrids, ethanol, gas and hydrogen. The model for the city of São Paulo stands out for its low output noise, great comfort and zero emission of pollutants," states Corso.
Paulo Corso believes that the Brazilian Hydrogen Bus Project is another important step to consolidate the country's vocation for the use of renewable fuels. "Marcopolo's is a traditional partner in the clean energy projects and it is seeking to collaborate for a more sustainable planet," he adds.
Launched in November 2006, the Brazilian Hydrogen Bus Project consisted of the operation and maintenance of four buses with hydrogen cell fuel. The project also involves the installation of a hydrogen production station from water electrolysis and buses supply, and monitoring and verification of the performance of these vehicles at the ABD Metropolitan Corridor (São Mateus - Jabaquara).
The Brazilian project was fully completed under research contract funded by the United Nations Development Programme with Global Environment Facility resources - GEF and the Brazilian Innovation Agency - FINEP, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The Ballard Power Systems, Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos (EMTU/SP), EPRI International, Hydrogenics Corporation, Marcopolo, Petrobrás Distribuidora and Tuttotrasporti provide the vehicles supply, the production station as well as the hydrogen supply.
Viale BRS
With 13,200 mm long, the Marcopolo Viale BRS bus can carry 27 seated and 42 standing passengers. The vehicle has air-conditioning systems and audiovisual displays in the passenger lounge as well as wider corridors that increase the comfort and the safety of users. It also has space for wheelchairs with additional chair for the companion and access ramp.
Clean Energy
The bus features hybrid electric drive (electric motor powered by a hydrogen cell fuel + batteries), with autonomy of 300 km. In addition to that, it features a braking energy recovery system.
The propulsion process works as follows: the hydrogen in the reserve tank is introduced into the cell where it undergoes an electrochemical process that produces electricity by the aggregation of hydrogen with oxygen in the air that generates water as a byproduct. This electricity is stored in batteries that power the electric traction motor (similar to a trolleybus), installed on the rear axle, which generates mechanical energy and moves the vehicle.
The fuel cell system does not produce any pollutant. It is different from the diesel engine buses in which thermal energy is transformed into mechanical energy, at the same time that the spent fuel generates waste pollutants.
Photo Credits: Vitor Leite e Gelson Mello da Costa