T4.8 Alternative fuel buses
Transition area transit services to 100% renewable energy.
According to Intercity Transit’s 2018 ESMS focus areas poster the agency will be evaluating using renewable diesel (R99) in its buses and vans this year. GNA Consultants’ post surveys the issues; the Chelan PUD’s staff evaluated using it and explored the concerns about deforestation associated with using palm oil as a source. So far, Intercity Transit has been reluctant to move forward with electric buses. The Board got a report about potential problems from a consultant, and received a presentation from staff in April and an update in August 2019 about current developments. (In fact, IT apparently currently intends to replace its hybrid buses with straight diesels.)
Many transit agencies are trying out electric buses and announcing long term commitments to convert their fleets to them, which help to support the transition. (David Roberts’s recent Vox piece, “Electric buses are coming, and they’re going to help fix 4 big urban problems” gives an overview of the arguments for them and recent developments.
Champaign-Urbana’s Mass Transit District is using an electrolysis plant at its maintenance station to produce hydrogen for 60 foot electric fuel cell buses. Power is supplied by a solar array with over 5,500 panels. The agency touts fuel cell electric vehicles’ greater range, lower weight, greater durability, easier deployment and route flexibility, and cradle-to-grave recycling attributes, and rapid refueling. (They also use the waste heat from the fuel cell to heat the buses.) The project received a $5 million Federal grant.
In late 2015, Pierce Transit got a $2.55 million federal grant to help buy three electric buses and charging infrastructure. Seattle Metro has ordered 120 electric buses, is already running EV buses in regular service on two Eastside routes, and is testing models with 140 miles of range from several manufacturers and 60 foot articulated electric buses on regular routes.