We were right all along!! Here's the deal between GE and EFCX that we've been waiting for.
Propulsion System for Transit Buses and Heavy Duty Vehicles
- Program Receives Funding from US-Israeli BIRD Foundation -
NEW YORK, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric Fuel Corporation (Nasdaq: EFCX)and General Electric Company today announced plans to jointly develop a new all-electric, battery/battery hybrid propulsion system for powering electric buses and heavy duty trucks. The first application for the system will be an all electric, zero emission, full size transit bus.
The two companies have recently been awarded funding from the Israeli-U.S. Bi-national Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation for the joint development of the electric propulsion system.
Weighing approximately 20 tons with a passenger capacity of 90, the all electric transit bus is expected to be capable of running a full 8-10 hour shift without recharging. The program requires the bus to meet all power and performance levels required by U.S. transportation authority standards, including the operation of energy consuming accessories such as air-conditioning and handicap lifts.
The hybrid system consists of a main power source, an Electric Fuel zinc-air battery, and an auxiliary battery. The vehicle draws cruising energy from the zinc-air battery, and supplementary power for acceleration, merging into traffic and hill climbing from the auxiliary battery. When stopping or slowing down, the bus retarding system is designed to act as an energy-generator recharging the auxiliary battery.
The new propulsion system will incorporate a General Electric drive system with GE's energy management systems, adapted specifically for this application.
The unique zero-emission electric hybrid system is expected to offer significant economic advantages over other alternative-fuel solutions, by greatly lowering vehicle maintenance cost with reduced brake wear-and-tear and virtually eliminating engine/transmission maintenance. The bus's driving range is also expected to be expanded by up to 25%, enhancing energy efficiency and further reducing operating costs.
Electric Fuel Corporation, with corporate offices in New York City and manufacturing and R&D facilities in Jerusalem, Israel and in Auburn, Alabama, is pioneering the use of zinc-air battery technology for electric vehicles,consumer electronic products, and industrial applications. |
