The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is supporting the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in the deployment of twenty-eight 40’ New Flyer battery electric buses (BEBs). CTE’s scope includes conducting performance validation testing, 12 months of key performance indicator reporting, leading a Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) 101 course for COTA staff, and monitoring project risks, requirements, and schedules.
COTA received funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s 2022 Low or No Emissions Vehicle Program (Low-No) to deploy 28 New Flyer BEBs. CTE has performed performance validation testing for the first delivery of eight BEBs, measuring the effects of passenger loading, auxiliary system power, driving style, and route topography.
CTE has also organized and led a ZEB 101 course for COTA staff, including training supervisors, maintenance staff, infrastructure managers, engineers, and operations staff, in Columbus, Ohio, at COTA’s McKinley facility. ZEB 101 courses at COTA may continue on an annual basis based on the positive feedback received from staff and may also potentially expand to include the larger Columbus and Ohio transit ecosystem.
