Federal dollars coming to Mass. to buy cleaner electric buses

The transformation from diesel to electric buses in Massachusetts got a big boost this past week: an infusion of nearly $60 million from Washington to help pay for 57 new electric buses. The new buses will operate on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, as well as out of Quincy.

The switch to electric buses is yet another pillar in the state’s march to slash greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, while at the same time lowering pollution that contributes to respiratory and other health issues. In 2021, the state set a legally-binding mandate to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

One major challenge with electric buses hangs in the air, though: How to charge them. Unlike cars used for commuting, buses are in near-constant operation, some running routes for up to 18 hours a day.