Tokyo hydrogen bus gets license

A bus with a hydrogen-fueled engine jointly developed by Tokyo City University and Tokyo-based Hino Motors Ltd. has been given a license plate by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the first such achievement in Japan. The bus, which has an average fuel efficiency of 16 kilometers (km) per kilogram (kg) of hydrogen, is based on a 4728cc engine-displacement Hino Liesse bus in which was installed a straight-four hydrogen engine made by modifying a diesel engine. The bus is powered by six aluminum high-pressure 35MPa hydrogen tanks, which allow it to cover more than 200 km on one filling. Further research into the use of byproduct hydrogen to reduce operating costs is planned to allow for mass production. The researchers said they will work toward reducing the cost of building hydrogen buses, including implementing a plan to conduct joint demonstration experiments with Muroran Institute of Technology on the use of hydrogen mixtures, containing 55% hydrogen and 45% hydrocarbon, generated as byproduct by petrochemical complexes and ironworks. The partners chose to develop a hydrogen bus as they agreed to use only reliable and durable existing technologies. The university conducted general driving tests over 2,100 km to confirm that the user-friendliness and riding comfort of the bus was equivalent to those of diesel-powered vehicles. (April 9, 2009)