Resilient Zero-Emission Transit Bus Fleets: A Guide (2025)
Chapter: Summary
SUMMARY
Resilient Zero-Emission Transit Bus Fleets: A Guide
The purpose of this guide is to provide transit agencies with a framework for updating their resilience plans to address the unique challenges of operating zero-emission transit bus (ZEB) fleets. The guide assumes that agencies have existing resilience plans for conventionally fueled internal combustion engine (ICE) fleets and aims to guide them in adapting these plans to the specific needs of zero-emission (ZE) vehicles.
Additionally, the guide assumes agencies have existing ZE vehicle transition plans and offers a roadmap for integrating these plans into their existing resilience plans, providing agencies with a clear understanding of the most effective resilience measures to implement and when to deploy them based on their specific ZEB plans. This guide aims to provide clear guidance and practical steps to ensure transit agencies can maintain service, minimize disruptions, and meet the needs of their communities.
Key Takeaways from This Guide Include
- Transit agenciesʼ existing resilience plans should continue to form the basis for resilience planning at the agency as ZEBs are introduced into the fleet.
- Transit agency ZEB transition plans are a critical input for updating resilience plans.
- The fundamental differences in battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure and vehicles from fossil fuel infrastructure and vehicles mean that new resilience plans and practices are needed to meet service levels in all situations.
- Some threats are applicable to both incumbent and ZE technologies but might have different magnitudes of impact for ZE fleets, while some threats will be entirely new and require new adaptations.
- ZE system performance is more influenced by external conditions than fossil-fueled systems are, and thus has more performance variability, which can affect emergency response capabilities.
- In the current energy landscape, charging and hydrogen fueling are not universally available, which reduces refueling flexibility.
- Differences in the length of time to refuel and dependence on external conditions compared to conventional systems require changes in practices to be prepared for unexpected situations.
- Some ZE adaptation measures can provide operational benefits in addition to resilience capabilities, such as reducing energy costs.
This guide also contains six case study examples of transit agency approaches to resilience planning for ZEB fleets.
