GEF has determined, after 5 years of argument and feasibility research from 1996 to 2000, to assist the developing countries to develop their public transits, and the demonstration of fuel cell buses is important part of it. Given the FCB technology is yet matured enough, the entire project consists of 4 periods.
(1) Feasibility study ( finished )
(2) Limited demonstration ( goes on )
(3)Extended demonstration ( next phase )
(4) Industrialization
- GEF is going to invest USD 60 million in FCB. At the initial stage, GEF sets the demonstration in 6 cities from 5 countries, or USD 12 million for each country on an average.
- GEF initiated the Brazil project first in 2001 and the China project started in 2002 in two phases.
First-phase objective in China ( 2003-2006): to purchase FCB and build hydrogen fuelling stations via public bidding; to operate 4,000 hours in 2 years, collecting and analyzing data to support the further improvement and cost reduction; to improve the capabilities of relevant sides in decision-making, program, management, including the technicians and workers; to improve the awareness of the society and people and formulate related strategies.
The second-phase objectives ( 2007-2010 ). Demonstrations in Beijing and Shanghai are expected to pave way of reducing the technical cost of FCB and improving their capabilities of commercialization and industrialization; to carry out activities of public transit policy and program related to FCB; to make more people understand and know FCB and instill more environmental protection sense. |