Electric Transit User Group
NREL is coordinating an Electric Transit User Group to identify and address technical and logistical issues specific to battery electric and fuel cell electric adoption and use within the transit industry.
The group gathers regularly to inform NREL's strategic direction to help address pressing needs associated with electrifying transit fleets, including technical challenges, workforce development, operations and maintenance, procurement, and other hurdles. Information collected through Electric Transit User Group listening sessions generates key insights that could inform future research, technical assistance needs, and funding opportunities. Summaries of these discussions are provided below.
Listening Sessions
April 2024
Stakeholders gathered to discuss transition planning for transit fleet electrification. Key takeaways included:
- Battery degradation is already affecting battery electric bus (BEB) operations. More study of real-world BEB battery degradation is needed.
- Transit bus operators face uncertainty about whether to retrofit an existing facility or build a new one.
- Blocking strategies are complex but may be useful for BEB integration.
- Regular industry updates on transit-specific zero-emission bus technology developments could help keep transition plans current.
Read a summary of the April 2024 meeting.
February 2024
Stakeholders gathered to discuss electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Key takeaways included:
- Interoperability between battery electric buses and electric vehicle charging infrastructure continues to be a major barrier to BEB adoption.
- Depot space constraints hinder large-scale BEB adoption.
- EV charging resiliency is a looming concern as fleets move beyond the pilot stage and start relying heavily upon BEBs.
- Hydrogen may offer a range of advantages in cold climates, but little real-world data are presently available.
Read a summary of the Feb. 2024 meeting.
September 2022
Stakeholders from vehicle manufacturing, transit agencies, utilities, and related industry partners joined an Electric Transit User Group kick-off meeting held in coordination with the Center for Transportation and the Environment Zero Emission Bus Conference. This meeting provided a platform to share challenges, successes, and lessons learned related to the adoption and deployment of electric fleet vehicles and charging infrastructure.
Read a summary of the September 2022 meeting.
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