The Zero Emission Bus Resource Alliance (ZEBRA) is a professional association of transit agencies committed to operating zero-emission buses (ZEBs), with a combined presence of over 500 ZEBs in service and countless more in the procurement phase. ZEBRA serves as a hub for sharing invaluable industry insights, resources, and best practices - and since its founding in 2015, CTE has worked on behalf of ZEBRA's membership to provide the group with technical assistance and industry consultation.

Recognizing the critical role that a skilled workforce plays in the successful implementation of ZEBs, ZEBRA recently held a web meeting where members were introduced to James Hall from the Transit Workforce Center (TWC). James shed light on the latest tools and resources available to train and develop a proficient ZEB workforce. This development-focused approach is paramount to ensuring the seamless integration and operation of zero-emission buses.

In collaboration with ZEBRA members, TWC has taken workforce development to new heights with the creation of two groundbreaking resources specifically tailored for agencies operating ZEBs. The first resource is a comprehensive set of training standards, offering detailed guides at 100, 200, and 300 levels, which focus on maintenance training. These standards address a critical question often raised by agencies: What knowledge and skills do technicians need to effectively work with this new technology? By utilizing these maintenance level standards, agencies can design internal training programs that establish appropriate criteria for their workforce.

In addition to the maintenance training standards, TWC has expanded its publicly accessible online battery-electric bus (BEB) familiarization course. This enhanced course equips agency personnel with the necessary knowledge and expertise to navigate the intricacies of BEBs. Both the training standards and the BEB familiarization course are scheduled for publication in the upcoming fall, adding to the existing resources on RFP language for training and BEB 101.

By prioritizing workforce development, ZEBRA ensures that transit agencies have the necessary tools and guidance to cultivate a highly skilled ZEB workforce. Together, ZEBRA, CTE and TWC are laying the foundation for clean, efficient, and sustainable transportation technologies and spearheading the transformation of the transportation industry.