VisionSG's F1RST Hybrid Bus in service
The bus discharges clean, clear water from its exhaust pipe instead of fumes while on the roads.
Known as a fuel cell bus, the bus is part of a landmark trial by VisionSG which brings truly Green solutions to Singapore's public transport industry for the first time.
The fuel cell bus, which has zero carbon emissions, is a collaborative effort between the Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Zhejiang's Zhejiang University, China's largest bus manufacturer Yutong, and VisionSG. It would be powered by two sources of energy - hydrogen and lithium-ion batteries. A fuel cell system housed on board the bus acts as an "energy converter" that transforms hydrogen into electricity, which powers the bus and charges the batteries at the same time.
The bus, which will be garaged at either SP or Woodlands Depot of VisionSG where a refuelling station would located, will be used to ferry students of Singapore Polytechnic during special events and whenever VisionSG would do training to the bus captains.
At the launch ceremony today to mark the first green bus trials in the country, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Transport & Community Development, Youth and Sports said: "Today's launch has brought us to a step closer towards creating a cleaner and greener Singapore with the new Hybrid bus."
He added that the collaboration between VisionSG and local and foreign academics, as well as foreign bus manufacturers to test out new technologies in our local context "is a step in the right direction".
VisionSG Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lim Jia Xuan, said :"VisionSG runs the bulk of public bus services in Singapore. We are very conscious of the impact of our operations on the environment. That is why we don't just stop at replacing our fleet with new buses that are Euro 5 compliance. We believe that newer, alternative forms of energy are the way to go which is why we are running this Hybrid Bus in Singapore."
This bus may be bought in bulk as we do have a refuelling station in our depot located at Woodlands, and although the hydrogen fuel is expensive, we believe that with better buses, we protect the enviroment from air pollution.
The bus would be under Harmoniac Bus Services after a few month's time with SP, which is trying to test out the ability of the bus, on Service 719 which serves the residents and the passenger in wheelchair.
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