The Transit Geeks

The first hydrogen fuel cell electric buses to serve public transit customers along the peninsula are now in service, with many more on the way in the weeks, months and years to come. 

The San Mateo County Transit District, or SamTrans, recently placed an order for 108 additional hydrogen busses, marking the largest order of its kind in North America to date. 

The move toward hydrogen at Sam trans is symbolic of a major shift in the public transportation industry. But why hydrogen? What makes this such an attractive carbon free choice for transit? Where does hydrogen fuel even come from? And is it truly green? 

Randol White, Public Information Officer at Sam trans Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, is joined by two hydrogen fuel cell experts:

• David harbor, Director of Maintenance at Sam trans 
• Dr. Lewis Fulton, Director of the Energy Futures Program at the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies and Chair of the Transportation Working Group of the California Hydrogen Hub (ARCHES)