Skip to main content

LA Metro takes delivery of first zero emission buses

Hot on the heels of the announcement of California Governor Jerry Brown’s Executive Order to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the state to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 comes the news that the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has taken delivery of its first five battery electric transit buses. These 40-foot buses are built by local Southern California Electric Vehicle manufacturer BYD Motors and will be integrated into their daily operations, as the buses are
May 1, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Hot on the heels of the announcement of California Governor Jerry Brown’s Executive Order to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the state to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 comes the news that the Los Angeles 1267 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has taken delivery of its first five battery electric transit buses.

These 40-foot buses are built by local Southern California Electric Vehicle manufacturer BYD Motors and will be integrated into their daily operations, as the buses are capable of driving more than 155 miles on a single charge.

LA Metro, said to the US’ first clean-air fleet with its conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses, is now also the first major transit property in the US to begin electrifying their fleet with truly zero-emissions buses.

The BYD electric bus delivers a host of operational and environmental benefits for public transit riders, bus operators and residents of the community – it is very quiet and ensures a comfortable ride without vibrations, jerks or the noise associated with the conventional buses and combustion engines. The bus can also drive for more than 155 miles even in heavy city traffic on a single charge.

Los Angeles Metro will test the first five electric buses on various routes around the city to evaluate their optimal route profiles. There are still 20 more electric buses left on Metro's contract with BYD Motors, and if all goes well, the city hopes to see more electric buses on the streets soon.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Electric bus fleet for Sao Paulo, Brazil
    October 9, 2012
    Mayor of the City of Sao Paulo in Brazil, Gilberto Kassab has announced plans for electric buses from Chinese manufacturer BYD to run in the city by the end of the year. There are approximately 15,000 public buses in the city of Sao Paulo today; however fleet buses are responsible for more than 20% of total transportation emissions. BYD says its electric bus is not only zero-emissions but also economical. It is estimated that energy savings of US$246,000 could be saved during the life cycle of a San Paulo
  • Michigan appoints new chief mobility officer
    August 1, 2023
    Justine Johnson pledges focus on 'people-centric mobility journeys'
  • RBF Consulting selected for ‘hot spots’ feasibility analysis
    April 17, 2012
    RBF Consulting has been selected by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide transportation planning and engineering for the Measure R funded I-605 Congestion ‘Hot Spots’ Feasibility Analysis. Hot spots are identified as major traffic congestion areas, attributed to increasing passenger car and truck traffic, localised capacity and/or operational constraints on the freeway, or arterial street system.
  • Illinois EPA funds cleaner transport options in Chicago area
    December 13, 2018
    The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has pledged approximately $19 million in its first round of funding to help transit agencies invest in cleaner modes of transport. This initial round has been distributed to local companies as part of the Driving a Cleaner Illinois Programme – an initiative which seeks to improve air quality in the state by removing old diesel engines from service. Funding is expected to provide clean air benefits for working families and children in ‘environmental jus