Environmental, Health, and Safety Issues of Fuel Cells in Transporation - Volume 1: Phosphoric Acid Fuel-Cell Buses

This study assesses the environmental, health, and safety issues that may affect the commercialization of the phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) bus. The study focuses on safety but also reviews relevant health concerns and discusses environmental issues related to the hazardous constituents in the PAFC bus' surge battery and related to regulated air emissions produced during operation. The reportidentifies some potential health and safety hazards of the PAFC bus subsystem, including phosphoric acid, mineral oil, hydrogen gas, methanol, lithium/potassium hydroxide, cadmium, nickel, high-power batteries, and high-temperature exhaust. It also lists design features that minimize risks from these hazards. Study results indicate that the PAFC bus appears to be at least as safe as a diesel Ibus and that in-use environmental impacts of a PAFC bus are insignificant compared to those of a diesel bus.