Valence Technology, a leading global manufacturer of energy systems, lauded BC Transit for deploying a large number of hydrogen fuel buses at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in British Columbia. This represents the largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses to be put into service in the world. The fuel cell buses utilize the dynamic energy systems developed by Valence Technology.
Robert L. Kanode, President & CEO of Valence Technology, congratulated BC Transit for demonstrating to the world that innovative clean technologies are not just concepts but can be used practically. Kanode further said the company’s dynamic energy systems, which is reliable, safe and high performing technology, was used to maximize the efficiency of the fuel cells and hailed BC Transit for showcasing an emission free product to the world.
ISE Corporation, a Valence Technology customer and manufacturer of hybrid vehicles based in California, supplied to BC Transit 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses. Each of the fuel cell bus is equipped with a 43 kWh, 614 V lithium phosphate battery system consisting U-Charge series of advanced batteries from Valence Technology. The hydrogen fuel cell buses operated by BC Transit can be used for up to 15 years at double the efficiency when compared to conventional buses that use internal combustion technology. In addition, hydrogen fuel buses have lower maintenance costs as well as emit very less greenhouse gases.