BUSES
CALSTART works with bus manufacturers, suppliers, transit operators and school bus fleets to develop next-generation technologies, accelerate sales of near-zero and zero-emission buses, and supports pioneering public policies that are helping to make clean transit a reality across the nation.
We’re working in Midwest to help deploy fuel-cell buses servicing the NFL Football Hall of Fame, validating the performance battery-electric buses in the nation and increasing federal funding for low and no-emission buses. We are also working with School Districts to assist them with planning , purchasing and demonstrating advanced charging solutions. CALSTART is steering the way to a cleaner, lower-carbon bus future.
The Bus Initiative taps four Activity strategies to drive its outcomes:
- Assisting transit operators to understand, plan and purchase the cleanest bus platforms available.
- Developing the next generation of technologies for public transit and school fleet success, from zero-emission fuel cells to automation-assisted routes and Microgrids
- Providing users and industry with honest assessments of clean bus capabilities and challenges.
- Fighting for fair funding to support transit leadership in operating the cleanest vehicles in their communities.
DEVELOPMENT & DEMONSTRATION
CALSTART has been the national leader in helping the industry develop and commercialize the next generation of bus technology. We have spurred advanced powertrain development, such as fuel cells, advanced charging solutions such a Vehicle to Grid , demonstrated progressively more capable battery-electric bus designs and outlined the breakthrough areas for bus automation. Examples include:
- Researching, helping shape and leading the coalition to fund the National Fuel Cell Bus Program, which has driven significant cost and size reductions and performance improvements with fuel cell technology.
- Managing a a variety of user working groups of transit and school fleets, manufacturers and suppliers on best applications for using automated technology to improve transit and mobility services.
- Securing funding for and assisting with infrastructure planning and installation for the largest electric bus deployments in the nation.
ASSESSMENT & VALIDATION
To switch to cleaner buses, transit operators need to know whether a new technology will really work for them, day after day and year after year. CALSTART offers highly regarded technology evaluation and validation services to provide this, including collecting data in the field, documenting benefits and limits of technology, conducting market studies and analyzing the business case.
Examples include:
- Helping guide the first fuel cell bus to comply with the Buy American Act from prototype to market deployment and helping launch in Ohio one of the largest U.S. deployments of fuel cell buses.
- Collecting second-by-second data from electric buses on Los Angeles roads to demonstrate performance, compare energy use and conduct cost/benefit analyses for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
- Coordinating demonstration of the first all-electric and fuel-cell-electric articulated buses in the nation.
- Helping the San Joaquin Regional Transit District test a new generation of rapid-charge electric buses.
- Modeling the performance of zero emission buses on given routes and environments
MARKET ACCELERATION
Clean buses are finding satisfied customers across the country. From South Carolina to Texas to Michigan to Oregon, transit operators are going zero-emission. Our goal is 12,000 zero-emission transit buses by 2030 so we cannot let the momentum slow. CALSTART is helping dramatically expand this market with funding and implementation assistance. Examples include:
- Managing three programs, in coordination with partners, in three different states to advance clean bus technologies, Drive Clean Chicago, California HVIP and NYT-VIP.
- Leading an industry coalition that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for low- and no-emission buses at the federal level.
- Securing 100’s of million dollars in funding for zero-emission buses in California ( Schools and Transit)
- Assisting fleets to effectively use streamlined voucher incentive funding to augment their federal funding and reduce their risk and speed their transition to near and zero-emission buses.
- Managing the Clean Mobility Option Program Providing funding for zero-emission carsharing, carpooling/vanpooling, bike sharing/scooter-sharing, innovative transit services, and ride-on-demand services in underserved communities. https://www.cleanmobilityoptions.org/
PUBLIC POLICY DEVELOPMENT
CALSTART works with partners in the public and private sectors to advance policies that support and develop a clean transit future leading to 12,000 zero-emission buses by 2030.
Examples include:
- Securing $100’s of million per year in federal funding for low- and no-emission buses.
- Leading the California Zero Emissions Bus Coalition, which advocates for public investments to accelerate commercialization of the zero-emission bus industry.
- Coordinating the Commercial Electric Vehicle Working Group, which brings together bus fleets and power producers together to improve the business case for deploying electric buses and trucks.
- Leading a Bus and innovative mobility Coalition at the federal level to bring the next generation of funding ion the Transportation Bill
For information on how to become a member, please contact Director of Member Services Kimberly Taylor at 626-622-6229 or [email protected].