Peak Demand Charges and Electric Transit Buses

October 2014

In order to support and increase the adoption of electric transit buses, CALSTART (under the U.S. Federal Transit Administration cooperative agreement CA26-7075) researched and analyzed potential options that would mitigate the impact of peak demand charges on the operation of electric transit buses. The first goal of this white paper is to better understand how the peak demand charges levied by electric utilities on their commercial and industrial customers impact the business case for electric transit buses. The second goal is to research and analyze potential technical and policy options and recommend for consideration a pathway that will support and increase the adoption of electric transit buses.