Transit agencies’ zero-emission bus adoption increased in 2022
Author: Dan Zukowski
Nearly 5,500 new full-size zero-emission transit buses were on the road, on order or funded in the U.S. in 2022, a 66% increase over the previous year, according to data released this week by Calstart, a national clean transportation advocacy nonprofit. California led the nation with an increase of 735 battery-electric and fuel-cell buses, followed by New York, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts. And with nearly 2,000 zero-emission transit buses, California also had the largest fleet. As of September 2022, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority operated the largest full-size clean bus fleet with 566 battery-electric buses. Florida and New York each had 450 or more vehicles. The 2021 infrastructure law provided greater sources of funding for zero-emission transit investments, according to the Calstart report. The Federal Transit Administration awarded more than $1.6 billion in grants through the agency’s Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission Vehicle programs last year. Those funds made possible the purchase of 1,100 zero-emission buses. The majority of clean buses added in 2022 were battery-electric vehicles. Approximately 4% were fuel-cell electric vehicles. Public transit agencies more than doubled their purchases of small zero-emission buses, vehicles shor than 30 feet that are often used in demand-response services for older adults and people with disabilities, or in short-distance shuttle services. Schnader said agencies have growing confidence in zero-emission buses, which is expanding now to smaller vehicles.