California to require all bus fleets to be zero-emission by 2040

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved a statewide regulation which will require public transit agencies to gradually transition to fully zero emission buses by 2040. The Clean Transit regulation is expected to help transit agencies reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 19 million metric tonnes, nitrogen oxides by 7,000 tonnes and particulate matter by 40 tonnes from 2020 to 2050. CARB says the regulation will improve air quality, especially in low-income communities. It could also help
December 18, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved a statewide regulation which will require public transit agencies to gradually transition to fully zero emission buses by 2040.

The Clean Transit regulation is expected to help transit agencies reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 19 million metric tonnes, nitrogen oxides by 7,000 tonnes and particulate matter by 40 tonnes from 2020 to 2050.

CARB says the regulation will improve air quality, especially in low-income communities. It could also help transit agencies save 1.5 billion in maintenance and fuel costs by 2050.

Each transit agency will be required to submit a rollout plan demonstrating how it intends to purchase clean buses, build out the necessary infrastructure and train the required workforce. Larger agencies will have to submit their plans by 2020 while smaller agencies will have until 2023.

Transit agencies will then follow a phased schedule from 2023 until 2029, by which date all annual bus purchases will need to be zero-emission.

Public Funding for the zero-emission buses and related charging infrastructure will be administered by CARB, the California State Transportation Agency, 3879 Caltrans and the 4259 California Energy Commission.

In support of the regulation, the Department of General Services is streamlining bus purchases via a single statewide zero-emission bus purchase contract.

Going forward, CARB will conduct regular reviews with transit agencies to help ensure a successful transition.

The deployment of electric buses is also being explored in the UK. Last month, 4223 RATP Dev announced its plans to upgrade one of its London bus depots to house a fleet of 36 electric buses.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Building back better after Covid-19
    February 17, 2021
    The Canadian Urban Transit Association has looked carefully at what’s required to put public transportation on a firm footing post-Covid: here are a few of the group’s recommendations…
    Read More
  • Australia invests $20m in e-bus trials
    December 1, 2020
    Victoria’s first e-bus has saved 61 tonnes of CO2 emissions
    Read More
  • Zero-emission transport at centre of Democrat ‘Green New Deal’
    February 13, 2019
    Clean and affordable transportation and zero-emission vehicle infrastructure are at the heart of the US Democrats’ ‘Green New Deal’ package. The proposals seek to move the US away from fossil fuels and other sources of emissions that cause global warming within the next decade. The package says these goals can be reached by reached by a ten-year “national mobilisation” which include an overhaul in transportation systems to eliminate pollution and greenhouse as much as technologically feasible, repai
    Read More
  • London trials new Ford plug-in hybrid vans
    January 23, 2017
    Automaker Ford is launching a multi-million pound project designed to help improve air quality in London, as it accelerates its electrification plans with 13 new global electrified vehicles scheduled for introduction in the next five years. The project, supported by Transport for London, features a 12-month trial of 20 new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Transit Custom vans that are said to reduce local emissions by running solely on electric power for the majority of city trips such as deliveries or maintenance w
    Read More

Highlighted Content