METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

CALSTART Launches Podcast Focused on Zero Emissions

It is hosted by Jared Schnader, sr. director and bus initiative lead, at CALSTART, who has more than 15 years in the bus industry, from manufacturing, sales, operations, and consulting.

CALSTART Launches Podcast Focused on Zero Emissions

TRANSITiON to Zero discusses the issues with transit agencies that are deploying ZEBs, the consultants that support them, and those that build the buses, infrastructure, and components for those products.

Photo: CALSTART

2 min to read


CALSTART has a long list of “firsts” in the bus industry. The first hydrogen fuel cell bus demonstration. One of the first battery-electric transit bus demonstrations. The First hybrid-electric bus demonstration. The first electric school bus demonstration. Now, they have the first podcast focused 100% on zero-emission transit buses.

TRANSITiON to Zero discusses the issues with transit agencies that are deploying ZEBs, the consultants that support them, and those that build the buses, infrastructure, and components for those products.

Ad Loading...

If you have ever heard someone say, “I saw a great presentation at this conference,” then you will understand why this podcast was needed — if you weren’t there, then you don’t know the information, according to CALSTART.

Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Buses

The podcast is led by CALSTART, who is currently overseeing and supporting hundreds of zero-emission buses being deployed across the country.

It is hosted by Jared Schnader, sr. director and bus initiative lead, at CALSTART, who has more than 15 years in the bus industry, from manufacturing, sales, operations, and consulting. He is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Ukraine), a member of MENSA, and lives in Florida with his wife and three children.

In the first episode, Michigan and Iowa DOTs talk about the role of a DOT in supporting transit agencies in their transition to a zero-emission fleet. This has led to tearing down silos within state governments, more collaboration between the DOTs and their transit agencies, and greater opportunities within their state workforce.

TRANSITiON to Zero can be found at www.transitpodcast.org, Apple Podcast, and Spotify with bi-weekly episodes.

More Zero Emissions

A Caltrain electric railcar on the tracks
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 27, 2026

Caltrain’s Electrification Drives a New Era of Ridership Growth

The railroad’s shift to electric service has brought more frequent trains, stronger customer satisfaction, and increased ridership, earning it APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System award.

Read More →
Zero Emissions•October 12, 2026

Building a Flexible Path to Transit Electrification with BAE's John Hroncich

John Hroncich discusses BAE Systems’ modular and scalable approach, lessons learned from decades of real-world operations, and how agencies can identify electrification strategies that fit their fleets.

Read More →
A shot of ENC's manufacturing facility
Zero Emissions•by Alex Roman•September 30, 2026

LA Metro Board Awards 220 Battery-Electric Bus Contract to ENC

The contract, which is the largest base award of battery-electric buses by a U.S. transit agency, will be built in Southern California, sustaining good jobs as LA prepares to welcome the world in 2028

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Help Shape the 2027 Public Transit Conference
Management•by Alex Roman•September 29, 2026

Public Transit Conference Returning to GFX in 2027, Call for Papers Now Open

The Call for Papers is now open, allowing transit agency professionals and industry experts to help shape the PTC educational program by submitting session ideas for consideration.

Read More →
A WMATA bus at a transit center
Bus•by Alex Roman•September 21, 2026

Report: Transit Bus Manufacturing Supports 34,100 Jobs, $5.1B in GDP

The “Buses Mean Business” report examines the transit bus manufacturing industry’s economic footprint, supply chain, and rising demand for vehicle replacements.

Read More →
 A bus that's powering the Beer Garden Stage and also serving as a Cooling & Charging Station for festival attendees.
Zero Emissions•by Elora Haynes•September 14, 2026

Ohio’s METRO RTA Turns Electric Buses into Mobile Power Sources at PorchROKR

See how three Gillig battery-electric buses powered festival stages while the agency’s new Park & Ride service carried approximately 1,000 attendees, demonstrating another potential use for transit agencies’ electric fleets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Catalyst Mobility: Building Clean Transportation Together
Zero Emissions•by Alex Roman•September 14, 2026

CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility

The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.

Read More →
How BAE Systems Electrifies Transit Fleets
Zero Emissions•by Alex Roman•September 10, 2026

Building a Flexible Path to Transit Electrification

John Hroncich discusses BAE Systems’ modular and scalable approach, lessons learned from decades of real-world operations, and how agencies can identify electrification strategies that fit their fleets.

Read More →
A VVTA hydrogen fuel cell electric bus
Zero Emissions•by Staff and News Reports•September 1, 2026

California's VVTA Begins Phased Rollout of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses

The agency is introducing 13 zero-emission buses into revenue service while evaluating performance across its urban, rural, and long-distance routes.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A photo of UB's battery-electric bus event
Zero Emissions•by Alex Roman•September 1, 2026

Inside Look: University at Buffalo Puts First 8 Electric Buses Into Stampede Service

UB, transportation solutions provider WeDriveU, and fleet electrification specialist Zenobē marked the deployment in the presence of students, university administrators, and local officials.

Read More →