Federal funding and manufacturer innovations show promise for wider adoption. 
By Jacob Herson
Managing Editor
Transit California
Despite the impacts to California public transit agencies from the pandemic, the push toward zero-emission bus (ZEB) fleets has continued. Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) became the nation’s first fixed-route network to reach that milestone in 2018, and many other California agencies continue to target 2030 or 2035 ahead of the state-mandated goal of 2040.
The passage on November 5, 2021 of the landmark $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) marked the largest-ever federal investment in the nation’s public transit systems. The California Transit Association advocated for the highest possible commitment to public transit and passenger rail, and specifically elevated recommendations to Congress for facilitating the transition to zero-emission technologies in the transit industry. “This unprecedented level of funding over the next five years – including $106.9 billion for public transit and $102.15 billion for rail programs – is at its core an investment in the nation’s long-term economic vitality and environmental sustainability,” said the Association’s Executive Director, Michael Pimentel.
Prior to the passage of the act, President Biden toured Proterra’s electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility. “The federal government has played an important role in EV adoption,” noted Josh Ensign, President of Proterra Transit, even before the historic IIJA. “Many of our early transit vehicles were procured using federal resources from the Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration dedicated to research and development and demonstration projects. The Low or No Emission Vehicle Program (“Low No”) has been responsible for funding thousands of electric transit buses.”
Ensign said the IIJA “marks an important step towards cleaner air and healthier communities driven by zero-emission vehicles like electric transit buses, school buses, and more. It provides $39 billion for public transit in addition to the current baseline, including more than $4 billion of funding that's dedicated to zero-emission transit buses over five years. There’s a minimum of $2.5 billion and up to as much as $5 billion of funding for electric school buses, $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging, and this is not just for passenger vehicles, but also for commercial fleet charging as well.”
The new flow of funding converges fortuitously with ongoing innovations from the leaders in EV manufacturing. Here we will highlight some of the latest technological advancements driving the industry forward.
Increased Range
“For us, the most revolutionary thing is the Blade Battery,” said Frank Girardot, Senior Director of Communications at BYD. “That’s something we expect to see in buses coming up in the next year or so. The Blade Battery uses our chemistry, but it has an energy density as high as batteries that have unstable chemistries. And because it’s lithium iron and not lithium ion, it is completely safe. It can be punctured, it can be burned, it can be crushed, and it won’t explode.” Likening the evolution of EV batteries to that of smartphone batteries, Girardot speaks of range increases from 140-150 miles per charge to 175-180. 
From its first-generation buses, designed to travel 50 miles per charge, Proterra has progressed to its fifth-generation ZX5 Max, which can be equipped with 675 kWh of energy storage to deliver more than 300 miles of drive range, which “represents the most energy storage of any 40-foot electric bus on the road today in North America,” says Ensign. “We’ve deployed our ZX5 technology in communities ranging from Santa Cruz, California to Broward County, Florida.”
In 2021, Allison Transmission announced it was developing the eGen Power 100S, the latest model in its eGen Power product family, a fully electric axle designed to fit between the wheels of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses, replacing the vehicle’s traditional powertrain system. “It is one of the most powerful and fully integrated electric axle systems in the world, featuring an electric motor capable of generating in excess of 200 kW of continuous power and in excess of 300 kW peak power,” says Andy Byerly, Director of Electrification Product Management at Allison Transmission. “The efficiency advantage delivered by its design will translate to increased range capability or a reduction in battery pack size.”
Nova Bus meanwhile unveiled its new 100-percent-electric, long-range, dual-charging bus: the LFSe+, at the New York Public Transit Association conference in Albany in 2021. The LFSe+ can be powered with up to 564 kWh of onboard energy. It integrates the proven electric drive motor and next-generation power electronics from BAE Systems, which uses advanced materials such as silicon carbide to improve heat management. The lower weight and increased power density of the BAE Systems technology also contribute to bus performance and durability. Powered by an integrated modular system, the electric drive motor significantly decreases maintenance costs and emits no greenhouse gas emissions, according to Nova company.
Also during 2021, New Flyer unveiled its next-generation battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE NG™ heavy-duty transit bus. The new model incorporates three distinct technology advancements: high-energy batteries that extend range up to 13 percent; advanced protective battery packaging designed for easy install and simpler serviceability; and a new lightweight electric traction drive system from Siemens with up to 90 percent energy recovery. “The Xcelsior CHARGE NG harnesses the best technology on the market,” said Chris Stoddart, President at New Flyer and MCI. “It includes a streamlined design that reduces maintenance, increases energy density, and improves energy recovery while significantly reducing weight—offering a lighter, more energy-efficient, and longer-range electric bus.” 
Expanded Charging Infrastructure
Understanding that charging infrastructure capacity remains a barrier to ZEB adoption, Proterra has launched its Proterra Energy business. “We’ve now installed more than 55 megawatts of charging infrastructure in transit and other applications, and last year unveiled our next-generation fleet-charging system that can be configured to power up to 20 vehicles simultaneously or up to 40 vehicles to charge sequentially,” said Ensign.
The company recently announced a new initiative with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and Apparent to install a solar and storage microgrid paired with 104 EV chargers to help LADOT transition to a fully electric fleet by 2028. One of the largest fleet charging installations in the United States, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower LADOT’s electricity costs, and also provide emergency back-up power that will enable the agency to continue to operate in an outage, according to Proterra.
BYD has equipped some of its buses for inductive charging. By driving over a plate, a bus can utilize wireless charging through electromagnetic induction while picking up passengers. AVTA was one of the first agencies to adopt this technology. “In places like Wenatchee, Washington, or Indianapolis, Indiana, where it’s cold, and you have to run the heater, and that affects range, you can get a lot of that range back and continue to operate the buses” thanks to inductive charging, says Girardot. BYD is optimistic that the combination of its Blade Batteries and inductive charging can allow ZEBs to operate for a full day.
Hybrids
The advantage of a hybrid solution is that it does not introduce the added infrastructure requirements or range limitations of fully electric vehicles. Allison Transmission’s eGen Flex™ electric hybrid, rolled out in 2020, is capable of up to 10 miles of full electric range. It also improves fuel economy by up to 25 percent versus a conventional diesel bus and eliminates engine emissions and noise, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, according to the company. “We’ve further evolved our electric hybrid propulsion solution to use geofencing technologies that instruct the vehicle to automatically switch to full electric drive in designated Zero-Emission Zones and depot zones,” said Byerly. “Increased accessory power is included, which electrifies vehicle accessory systems, such as air conditioning and electric heat, allowing those accessories to operate at their optimal efficiency point, with clean and quiet electric power, further reducing emissions and strain on the engine, thereby protecting our environment.”
Greater Efficiency Through Automation
Early in 2021, New Flyer and Robotic Research unveiled the Xcelsior AV™—North America’s first fully operational heavy-duty automated transit bus—developed to harness the zero-emission power of New Flyer’s Xcelsior CHARGE™ battery-electric propulsion while integrating advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) technology to meet Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J3016 Level 4 technology with the automated vehicle (AV). Stoddart said, “In the future, we expect fleets of automated buses to improve road safety and with the potential to shorten commute times, increase energy efficiency, and reduce congestion.”
Just this month, GILLIG and RR.AI announced a development agreement for next-generation ADAS and SAE Level 4 AV technology for GILLIG transit buses in North America. The companies will develop and test safety features such as automatic emergency braking, precision docking, and bus yard automation in addition to blind spot detection and pedestrian avoidance. While commonly used in passenger vehicles, many of these features have not been widely deployed thus far on heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Additionally, the companies will develop automated driving capabilities that can be deployed for select in-service operations or in the transit depot to help manage electric vehicle charging and reduce vehicle damage. GILLIG says its zero-emission battery-electric bus will be one of the first of its products to benefit from the advanced technology and capability enhancements.
Manufacturing Capacity and Workforce Development
Jennifer McNeill, Vice President of Public Sector Sales and Marketing for New Flyer, stated that “alongside vehicle technology advancements, we have evolved our manufacturing and field services processes to ensure a safe, reliable, scalable approach to be ready for tomorrow’s growing electric bus demand today. In turn, we also enhanced training for our teams and those of transit agencies across North America; enabling EV adoption while supporting continuous workforce development to drive the new mobility era.” Alongside MCI, New Flyer also operates the VIC, which it calls the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus technology and providing essential workforce development through electric bus training, now available online.
The pandemic has not checked the advance of emission reduction efforts, either by California’s transit agencies or the industry’s leading manufacturers. The passage of the landmark IIJA will now make the funds available to deliver on the ambitious goals set for the next two decades.