The Georgetown University Generation II Fuel Cell Bus Program originally intended to concentrate on development of phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs) for transit buses. PAFCs had been used with success in the Generation I buses, and at the time it was the only type of fuel cell feasible for transportation to reliably operate on methanol.

Development work by Daimler-Benz (later DaimlerChrysler) and Ballard Power Systems in the mid-1990s demonstrated that a methanol-fueled Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) was indeed practical for use in vehicles. The fuel cell in the second Generation II Bus is based on technology demonstrated in NeCar III, a Mercedes-Benz A-class car powered by a 50 kW methanol-fueled PEM fuel cell.

In 1995, Georgetown awarded the PEM fuel cell development contract to Ballard Power Systems, following a nationwide competitive solicitation. Two years later, a joint venture among Daimler-Benz, Ballard, and Ford Motor Company was started, called dbb fuel cell engines; later, dbb was renamed XCELLSiS Fuel Cell Engines; XCELLSiS was later acquired completely by Ballard. The Ballard Generation II Bus (called the X1 Bus) debuted in 2001, using a 100 kW PEMFC as a power plant. For more information, please see the Technical Information page.

Ballard Fuel Cell Bus Configuration
Characteristic	Configuration
Vehicle Type	Nova BUS RTS Wide Front Door
Gross Vehicle Weight	39,500 lbs
Propulsion	Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell/Battery Hybrid
Seated Passengers	40
Suspension (Front and Rear)	Air spring, kneeling
Fuel	Methanol
Wheelchair Positions	2
Drive Motor	AC Induction
Motor Power	186.5 kW (250 hp)
Speed - 0 mph to 10 mph	2.8 seconds
Speed - 0 mph to 30 mph	14.5 seconds
Speed - 0 mph to 50 mph	45.5 seconds
Top Speed	66 mph
Range	350 miles
Noise Level	10 dB below internal combustion engines

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For technical details, please visit the Technical Information page.

Or visit the photo gallery of the Ballard X1 Bus.

Downloadable 2-page brochure for the X1 Bus:
	X1 Bus Brochure (1.6 MB)