Five buses fueled by hydrogen will circulate in Sao Paulo and four neighboring cities beginning in 2007, with innovations similar to those in industrialized countries. The vehicles will incorporate the “hybrid concept,” using electricity generated by hydrogen fuel cells and batteries, Marcio Schettino, coordinator of the project for the Metropolitan Enterprise of Urban Transportation, explained to Tierramérica.

The batteries accumulate the energy saved in moments that require little power — as when the vehicle is traveling downhill — and the energy generated by braking, which help to reduce costs. The great challenge is to ensure the economic viability to these buses, making them competitive with diesel-fueled buses, Schettino said.

The buses will be shown at the Electrical Vehicle Seminar and Exhibition, Aug. 16-17 in Sao Paulo. The 12-meter-long buses with a passenger capacity of 90 people each, will travel one million kilometers in four years of testing.