The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) released the “Transit Vehicle Innovation Deployment Centers (TVIDC) Advisory Panel Overview and Conclusions” report, which provides the conclusions of the panel and details its suggested solutions to challenges of continued innovation, development, and adoption of zero-emission transit technologies. The was prepared by CTE and published by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Under FTA’s TVIDC program, CTE formed the panel to address transit bus testing and research topics related to zero-emission bus (ZEB) development and adoption. Participants include more than a dozen transit agency GMs, leading transit bus manufacturers, all three federal bus testing centers, and public transit advocacy groups including the American Public Transportation Association. Panel discussions were convened in August 2019 in Los Angeles and in January 2020 in Chicago. A third panel discussion was planned but due to the COVID-19 public health emergency was postponed. The report is based on the first two meetings.

The panel report suggests strategies aimed at improving and guiding five key elements of the growing zero-emission transit industry: bus testing facilities, innovation research, transit bus automation, workforce development, and collaboration with electric utilities. The strategies range from focusing research resources on efficiency improvements and resiliency to forming a collaborative working group between transit agencies and electric utilities. More information on the strategies and the panel discussions can be found in the report.

“The release of the Advisory Panel’s conclusions comes at a pivotal moment for the zero-emission transportation industry,” said Dan Raudebaugh, CTE’s executive director. “As efforts to decarbonize the transit industry gain momentum, a coordinated effort is necessary to effectively use research, program, and training resources.”

As a nonprofit organization with over 27 years of experience advancing and deploying ZEBs, CTE played a valuable role not only in bringing diverse stakeholders together but also bridging the gaps between these stakeholders to prioritize objectives and develop recommendations for the future of zero-emission transportation. Looking forward, the guidance in this report will be useful for program decision-making, equipping the FTA to provide effective programs that better serve the ZEB industry and accelerate the adoption of clean transportation technologies throughout the U.S.