anchor Description
This project implements green hydrogen technology in transit for the first time in the State of Maryland. The new hydrogen fuel production and fueling station will operate at the County's David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operations Center (EMTOC) in Gaithersburg. This facility will power the County's first hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs), which will be procured as part of the Veirs Mill Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The County will partner with industry experts, the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) and Trillium, to implement the project.
anchorEstimated Schedule
Initial planning, including a Program of Requirements, was completed as part of the County's Zero Emissions Transition Plan in Preliminary design will begin in and the facility will be completed in
anchorCost Change
Cost decrease due to shifting funding for hydrogen buses to Bus Rapid Transit: Veirs Mill Road
anchor Justification
This project will reduce carbon emissions, increase the reliability and sustainability of the bus fleet, and is an essential step in the transition to a zero-emissions fleet to reach the goals in the County's Climate Action Plan. The new hydrogen fuel production facility will produce hydrogen fuel that is greener than traditional fossil fuel-based hydrogen, as the fuel will be produced from water using zero-emission electrolysis. Similarly, fuel cell electric buses can provide uninterrupted service on bus routes that have a standard daily range of over miles, which is beyond the maximum range currently allowed by zero-emission battery-electric buses.
anchorOther
Electricity needed to produce hydrogen fuel at this facility will be generated by a solar microgrid to be constructed at the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operations Center.
anchorFiscal Note
Funding for this project includes a Low or No Emission Grant from the Federal Transit Administration, appropriated via an supplemental in Federal Aid for the amount of In grant funding in this project was shifted to Bus Rapid Transit: Veirs Mill Road to reflect funds from this grant and the county's required match to be used to purchase fuel cell electric buses for the new BRT service.
anchorCoordination
Federal Transit Administration, Department of General Services, Department of Finance, Department of Permitting Services, Utility Companies, Industry Expert Partners