The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Glenn Research Center in Cleveland have formed a partnership to operate a hydrogen-fueled bus to demonstrate the safety, fuel efficiency, economy, and reliability of hydrogen production and fueling.

The hydrogen bus, which began carrying riders earlier this year, has a capacity of 57 passengers and will be in service between six and eight hours a day on various routes. RTA is the first public transit system in Ohio—and one of the few in the nation—to produce its own hydrogen fuel using electrolysis, a process that separates water into hydrogen and oxygen. The demonstration bus operates with nearly twice the fuel efficiency as a diesel-fueled bus.

RTA also worked with Sierra Lobo, a NASA Glenn contractor, to install a hydrogen fueling station at one of its facilities that already had fueling equipment for compressed natural gas (CNG), including 50 sensors to monitor the tanks.

The electrolysis unit takes in city water, purifies it via an internal de-ionizing process, and uses electricity to split the water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The generated hydrogen is then stored in tanks ready for use. The dispenser operates like a typical gas pump. The bus is driven up alongside the dispenser, a nozzle securely connects to the bus using a pressure-sealed flange, and the bus’s fuel tank is filled with hydrogen.

The bus is on loan from United Technologies Corporation (UTC Power) and the electrolyzer is on loan from NASA Glenn. The program, including the bus and fueling system, is valued at $3 million. The RTA board approved the agency’s $50,000 investment in this project, which pays for the installation and use of fueling equipment.

The RTA’s hydrogen-fueled bus debuted to great fanfare and large crowds during a media event that drew widespread attention despite the 9 degree temperatures and bitter wind chill.