BACKGROUND

Transit agencies are shifting from predominantly fossil fuel–powered vehicles to zero-emission vehicles. TCRP Research Report 219: Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses (2021) provides public transit agencies with best practices, case studies, and lessons learned from previous deployments of battery electric buses, fuel cell electric buses, and related fueling infrastructure. TCRP Research Report 219 is organized into nine key deployment phases: providing information and suggestions for assessing needs and requirements, selecting and specifying technology, determining capital costs and funding opportunities, developing fueling infrastructure, deploying fueling infrastructure, accepting and validating buses to ensure they meet specifications, evaluating training program considerations, establishing operations and maintenance practices, and monitoring and evaluating deployment performance.

Many transit operators are introducing zero-emission vehicles into their fleets and are concerned about meeting agency service commitments during the transition period. This transition involves new challenges, including overhauling and potentially expanding maintenance and operations facilities, recruiting and retraining employees, and managing an evolving mix of zero-emissions and conventional vehicles operating in parallel. This research should build on but not replicate TCRP Research Report 219 and should provide transit agencies with the context and knowledge needed to understand and appropriately prepare for and respond to the complexity of transitioning to zero-emission vehicles.

 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to produce a guide to help agencies prepare for and manage the transition to zero-emission transit vehicle fleets (limited to battery electric buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses).  

RESEARCH PLAN

This research will supplement TCRP Research Report 219 and include summaries of and references to other recent reports published on zero-emission vehicles. Proposers shall identify innovative ways to conduct research (focus groups, stakeholder interviews, etc.) and present the information (case studies, creation of evaluation frameworks, model procurement documents, online resources, fact sheets, etc.), and consider that the target audience will include transit systems of all sizes. The guide should assist policymakers (including transit board members, elected officials, and state agencies) and transit agency managers to develop a transition plan that includes the following key components: 

• Planning and public impacts
  • Decarbonization impacts
  • Improvement of transportation system, network, and operational resilience
  • Considerations in the deployment of buses related to exposure of populations to ground-level air pollution
  • Reduction of inequities and improving environmental justice
• Regulatory requirements (e.g., Buy America, Title VI, Equity)
• Technology and fuel options
  • Comparing, contrasting, and selecting between battery electric buses and fuel cell electric buses based on: 
    • Total cost of ownership
    • Range
    • Other considerations
  • Expectations for a long-term, reliable, affordable supply of green hydrogen and long-term availability of sufficient and green electricity at fleet garages
• Procurement options
• Fleets
  • Identify buses to be replaced by zero-emission transit buses (ZEBs)
  • Timing of bus purchases and of what types 
  • Resilience and redundancy assessment, including emergency operations
  • Managing simultaneous use of different fueling/propulsion types at one agency
• Power and fuel supply infrastructure
  • Ensure charging and fueling infrastructure support ZEBs as their quantity incrementally increases
  • Determine approach to optimize and manage charging load profile for peak demand, electricity costs, and ability to meet service requirements
  • Other power supply needs, such as for onsite hydrogen production/storage/dispensing
  • Other options that could influence the grid power needed and electricity costs such as onsite generation and storage
  • Phasing in electrical grid connection enhancements needed from utility providers to support the onsite infrastructure as this incrementally increases
  • Benefits of early collaboration with utilities
• Facilities
  • Identify new garages, en route charging, or modifications/upgrades to existing garages needed to support the transition, and collaborate with all necessary permitting authorities
  • Identify the phasing/sequencing of facility changes as the number of ZEBs incrementally increases
• Workforce
  • Benefits of early and ongoing collaboration with workforce
  • Changes in workforce knowledge and skills related to safety, bus maintenance, charging/fueling infrastructure maintenance, facility maintenance, and dispatch operations
  • Training needs
  • Changes that may affect labor agreements
  • Impact to salaries
  • Strategies for retention and recruitment
• Capital and operating costs
• Managing fleets during transition     
• Reviewing and updating the plan periodically
• Emerging technology

The guide shall identify key deployment and operational challenges transit agencies may face during their transition efforts and strategies to minimize them, including lessons learned to date. A primary focus of the research shall be to identify transit agency experiences dealing with ongoing operations while using an evolving mix of zero-emission and diesel technologies in their fleets during their transitions. Innovative approaches to address challenging issues (e.g., disposal of batteries, fire hazards, resiliency during power outages) shall also be identified.

The research plan shall be divided into tasks that present, in detail, the work proposed in each task. The research plan shall describe appropriate deliverables that include, but are not limited to, the following (which also represent key project milestones):

• An interim report (i.e., a technical memorandum or report) and panel teleconference, which occurs after the expenditure of no more than 40 percent of the project budget,
• Draft guide, 
• Final guide, and
• Technical memorandum, titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products”.

The research plan may include additional deliverables as well as additional panel meetings via teleconference. The research plan shall have a schedule for the project that includes 3 weeks for panel review of the interim report, 3 weeks for panel review of the draft final report, and 3 weeks for contractor revision of the draft final report. 

STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP. The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.