This project, under contract with the Nevada Operations Office of the U.S. Department of Energy, was to develop a modified bus into a test-bed for advanced hybrid concepts. Work on this project related to developing control strategies and systems, battery systems, safety sensors and their operations, hydrogen fueled engine development, incorporation of super capacitor regenerative braking systems, and several other aspects. A photograph of the exterior of the bus is shown in Figure 1. In the initial configuration, the bus was modified from a pure electrically-driven configuration to one where a hydrogen fueled engine/generator and storage system was added. The generator was used to recharge batteries on board as needed. Hydrogen was stored in metal hydride beds.

Figure 2. The UNLV hydrogen-fueled engine developed for the Hydrogen/Electric Hybrid Bus is shown being evaluated at Kell's Automotive in Las Vegas.

Current modifications to the previous system taking place involve the development of a new engine as well as the addition of a better controlled regenerative braking system and high pressure hydrogen tanks. General modifications are being made to enhance the ability to incorporate a variety of prime movers and other components as may be desired in the future.

The engine that is being used for this application is a modified Chevrolet 454 cu in V-8 with a special fuel injection system. In the bus application the engine operates at a constant speed so the "tuning" of exhaust and intake channels can be used. A special cam was designed for this engine, and attention was given to making the intake ports allow larger flow with lower pressure drop. Figure 2 shows a photograph taken at Kell's Automotive of Las Vegas, where the actual engine construction and evaluation took place.