Hydrogen ICE Drive System

ISE offers a unique hydrogen-based hybrid system that uses hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines (ICEs), a lower cost alternative to fuel cells. In 2003, ISE concluded an important agreement with Ford Power Products to develop a prototype hybrid bus using a hydrogen-burning engine produced by Ford, and secured $1 million in funding commitments to build such a bus. Incorporating one of Ford's hydrogen-burning engines into a cradle assembly similar in other respects to the Company's production gasoline hybrid system, ISE recently completed integration of the first "hydrogen ICE" hybrid bus.

Use of hydrogen also opens up the possibility of creating fuel from renewable sources, which can reduce world dependence on imported oil and other fossil fuels. Hydrogen can be derived from water through electrolysis, a process that can achieved with clean electricity generated from solar, wind, or hydroelectric power.

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As there is no carbon in the fuel, there is nil carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or hydrocarbons in the exhaust. There are no particulate emissions. It is expected toxic emissions will be very low, with no NOx being the principle toxic component at levels below 50 ppm. Emissions testing will be done as part of the test and evaluation program.

ISE believes the HHICE concept, with further technology development (which is in progress) can result in virtually no measurable toxic emissions.

The first "HHICE" bus completed a two-month tour of duty in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (see photo). The unique bus was operated in Manitoba during the coldest winter month to validate the performance of the ISE hydrogen-hybrid system in temperatures down to 30 degrees below zero. The Winnipeg bus trials were highly successful, demonstrating that the hydrogen hybrid system can withstand brutally cold temperatures, and still outperform conventional buses.

The HHICE bus also completed a northeastern U.S. tour with stops in Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, Montclair and Newark NJ, and finally at Washington DC. (see photos below) Ride and drive events were held in most of these cities. The Bus was on display for the National Hydrogen Association, and was used as a shuttle bus to take attendee’s to the Shell station on Benning Road, where one of the dispensers is used for the hydrogen vehicles. In the Winnipeg and Eastern visits hundreds of riders came to appreciate the quit and comfortable operation of the Hydrogen Hybrid bus. Over 400 Winnipeg riders filled out a questionnaire which will be evaluated, providing probably the first sociological data base on the reaction of riders to a hydrogen fueled bus.

The bus is returned to SunLine Transit, which owns the bus and made it part of its Palm Desert, California fleet in December 2004.