Photo Credit: Honolulu DTS

By Maggie Maddrey, Lead Managing Consultant

Communities across Kauaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi are one step closer to cleaner, quieter transit options with the delivery of four battery-electric buses (BEBs) to each island. This project, supported by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and local counties, lays the groundwork for reducing air pollution and improving public health through modern zero-emission vehicles.

Manufactured by GILLIG, these zero-emission buses will replace 12 aging diesel vehicles, eliminating more than 17 tons of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions over their lifetimes and providing cleaner, quieter transportation for Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable communities. The transition to electric buses supports each county’s goal of operating 100% renewable fuel fleets by 2035 and reflects a broader commitment to long-term climate resilience.

This achievement is the culmination of a multi-year partnership that began when HDOT received its first FTA Low or No Emission Vehicle Program (Low-No) award in 2018. That initial grant provided funding for the counties of Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi to procure one BEB each and the associated charging infrastructure. Following a second successful Low-No award in 2021, CTE helped HDOT consolidate the two grants into a single, coordinated procurement of four BEBs and associated charging infrastructure for each county. CTE provided crucial technical modeling—including route, rate, and charge analyses for each county—and helped develop the joint request for proposals (RFP) that led to the selection of GILLIG as the vehicle provider.

After the 12 GILLIG buses are delivered, CTE will help them commission infrastructure, deploy the vehicles, and train staff on the new technology. CTE will also assist the counties with a third Low-No grant that was secured in 2022, applying our Smart Deployment methodology to help the agencies maximize the impact of federal funding for reliable and cost-effective outcomes.

CTE is honored to support the Aloha State on this journey to zero emissions and we are excited to see these quiet, clean, and efficient vehicles rolling through neighborhoods, school zones, and rural communities across the islands.