FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2024

CONTACT
Kate Mason
[email protected]
(615) 419-5185

Atlanta, GA — The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) has launched a new project under the FTA-sponsored Transit Vehicle Innovation Deployment Centers (TVIDC) program to analyze maintenance costs for zero-emission buses (ZEBs) in public transit. This initiative will provide transit agencies with critical insights into the maintenance expenses of battery electric buses (BEBs), fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs), and traditional diesel, hybrid, and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. By gathering detailed maintenance records, labor costs, and bus specifications, CTE aims to help transit agencies make informed procurement decisions and budgetary plans as they transition toward more sustainable bus technologies.

With zero-emission buses gaining momentum across the U.S., the need for up-to-date, detailed maintenance cost data has never been more pressing. Historically, maintenance cost data for all bus technologies have been difficult to obtain, as many agencies do not share their maintenance data. CTE's project seeks to fill this gap by collecting data from transit agencies nationwide, providing updated insights that will build on previous research, including the Transit Cooperative Research Program’s (TCRP) Guidebook for Post-2010 Transit Bus Procurements and data from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which last published data on zero-emission bus maintenance costs in 2022.

“By providing detailed maintenance cost data, we aim to empower transit agencies to make data-driven decisions as they continue the transition to zero-emission buses,” said CTE Executive Director, Dan Raudebaugh. “This project will provide valuable insights into the operational costs of different bus technologies, enabling agencies to properly plan and budget for successful deployments.”

A key aspect of this initiative is the analysis of maintenance costs at both the sub-system and component levels. By breaking down costs by specific vehicle sub-systems—such as propulsion, energy storage, and HVAC—CTE will enable operators to understand which components drive maintenance expenses, helping them better plan for future costs during their transition to zero-emission buses.

The culmination of the project will be an online comparison tool that transit agencies can use to evaluate the lifecycle maintenance costs of different fuel types and bus technologies. This tool will aggregate anonymized data from participating agencies, offering industry-wide insights while ensuring the confidentiality of individual contributors. Additionally, each participating agency will receive customized reports outlining their maintenance costs and trends, providing them with valuable data to inform their decision-making processes.

CTE's analysis will also determine the share of planned versus unplanned maintenance costs throughout the lifetime of these buses, equipping transit agencies with the knowledge they need to introduce ZEBs into their fleets confidently.

Under the TVIDC program, CTE is poised to deliver an ambitious portfolio of projects that advance the adoption of zero-emission transit solutions. This body of work encompasses a variety of innovative initiatives, including the integration and bench testing of cutting-edge fuel cell propulsion systems, market evaluations, and extensive trade studies. Each project is designed to address critical barriers to zero-emission technology, such as cost, durability, and performance, providing comprehensive solutions for transit agencies. CTE's efforts will also include detailed project management, stakeholder engagement, and data collection and analysis, ensuring that each initiative contributes valuable insights and actionable outcomes to propel the industry toward a sustainable, zero-emission future.

CTE is currently seeking out agencies to participate in this project. Ideal agencies have operated ZEBs for at least a year and can provide detailed maintenance records.

For more information about this project or to get involved, please contact Leslie Eudy at [email protected].

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ABOUT CTE

The Center for Transportation and the Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the health of our climate and communities by bringing people together to develop and commercialize clean, efficient, and sustainable transportation technologies. CTE collaborates with federal, state, and local governments, fleets, and vehicle technology manufacturers to complete our mission. If interested in learning more about CTE, please visit cte.tv.