Authored by Chase Stell, Managing Consultant

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The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is proud to support The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) in Columbia, South Carolina, as the agency expands its zero-emission fleet with both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses. This deployment marks a major step forward for The COMET as it explores how both technologies can work together to serve the community more sustainably and efficiently.

As part of this project, CTE helped The COMET deploy two New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE (XE35) battery electric buses and two New Flyer 40’ Xcelsior (XHE40) fuel cell buses, replacing four aging diesel cutaway buses that reached the end of their service life in 2023. The battery electric buses entered service in 2024. The fuel cell electric buses were officially deployed following a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Earth Day, April 22, 2025. This dual-technology approach gives The COMET the flexibility to match bus types to different route demands—leveraging battery electric buses for shorter, urban trips and fuel cell buses for longer-distance more demanding duty cycles.

The hydrogen infrastructure was made possible through a unique partnership between CTE member Linde, MSI Construction, and Fluitron. Linde installed a 4,500-gallon liquid hydrogen tank and vaporizer, and will serve as the fuel provider for the duration of the project. CTE continues to provide project management oversight as the vehicles and infrastructure are integrated into regular service. Our team facilitates weekly coordination meetings with all project partners and oversees subcontractor agreements and deployment schedules.

By deploying these battery electric and fuel cell buses, The COMET is not only reducing local emissions—it is also building the experience and internal capacity necessary to expand its zero-emission fleet and continue to work toward Columbia’s goal of improved air quality. CTE is honored to support the agency’s efforts to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and shape the future of clean transit in South Carolina.

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