Hydrogen-powered shuttle buses to service Detroit Metropolitan Airport
The hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2ICE) buses will be used for transporting airline passengers between terminals.
The delivery is the result of a partnership involving Ford, the Wayne County Airport Authority and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. The project is funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy that was supported by Congressman John D. Dingell, who represents Michigan’s 15th District.
Power for the Ford E-450 shuttle buses is provided by a 6.8-liter V-10 internal combustion engine that has been supercharged and modified to run exclusively on hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines have many advantages, including high-efficiency, all-weather capability and near zero emissions of regulated pollutants and greenhouse gases (CO2). Ford’s hydrogen buses are said to deliver up to a 99.7 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.
DTW’s new buses will be fueled by a hydrogen pumping station located in Taylor, Mich., located just east of the airport.
Serving nearly 36 million passengers each year, DTW is the largest airport in Michigan and among the 20 busiest air transportation hubs in the world.
Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford is the world’s first automaker to deliver commercial vehicles powered by internal combustion engines that are fueled exclusively with hydrogen. The company already has delivered hydrogen-fueled buses to Greater Orlando Airport Authority, Orlando Convention Central District, SeaWorld Orlando, University of Missouri Raleigh, city of Las Vegas, the San Mateo (Calif.) County Transportation Authority, and 10 buses to Canada for use in Prince Edward Island, Ottawa and Vancouver. To date, 23 buses of the 30 built have been delivered to customers for commercial use.