Today, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens saw the introduction of sixty new electric buses by Governor Kathy Hochul. At the Grand Avenue Bus Depot in Queens, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York Power Authority are installing 17 new bus charging points as part of their key infrastructure installation to power a fleet of zero-emission buses.
The MTA’s objective of running a fleet of buses with zero emissions by 2040 and the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050 are both supported by today’s announcement.
“Governor Hochul stated that these new electric buses will be crucial in guaranteeing that New Yorkers can travel to their destinations sustainably and safely.” “Building healthy, environmentally friendly cities is important, as evidenced by the growing prevalence of zero-emission buses in our transit systems.”
The buses include electric traction drive systems that are lightweight and can recover up to 90% of the energy used during braking. By maximizing energy efficiency, regenerative braking minimizes brake wear and tear. over $20 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and over $70 million in formula money from the Federal Transit Administration will go towards purchasing these buses.
To construct the essential infrastructure needed to run a fleet of zero-emission buses, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) are collaborating closely. Recently, the Power Authority finished installing 17 fast charging stations, also referred to as autonomous pantograph dispensers since they “dispense” energy via arms located on the roof that make automatic connections with the buses. In Queens, buses will park beneath the arms at the Central Maintenance Facility and Grand Avenue Bus Depot.
By year’s end, another 46 are scheduled to be finished at the Charleston plant in Staten Island and the Herkimer site in East New York, Brooklyn. Under Brooklyn’s Williamsburg Bridge Plaza, work is nearly finished on an on-street pantograph that will assist buses that need to “top off” their batteries in between daily journeys.
Grand Avenue and four other terminals in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn will receive 220 more overhead pantograph charging systems as part of the $188 million second phase of construction. Along with Consolidated Edison, several depots will also need to have their power distribution upgraded. A complex charge management system to help balance the electrical loads, several charging manufacturers, and a long-term service agreement are all part of the contract that will help ensure dependable bus charging.
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Every mile on these buses is a mile run less on fossil fuels—a daily success for sustainability, according to MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. We are transforming public transport, one electric bus at a time, as the biggest public bus system in North America and paving the path for a more environmentally friendly future.
According to Justin E. Driscoll, president and CEO of the New York Power Authority, “The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York Power Authority are making significant progress in building out infrastructure to support the electrification of the nation’s largest bus fleet.” 60 new buses and a steadily rising number of chargers will put New York City firmly on the road to a clean transport system, with zero-emission buses traversing every borough by 2026.
Richard Davey, president of New York City Transit, stated, “We’re sculpting a future where our buses not only connect neighborhoods but also protect our planet.” Cleaner air, a more robust transit system, and quieter journeys for passengers are all benefits of adopting zero-emissions buses. It’s a win-win situation.
Frank Annicaro, Senior Vice President of Buses at New York City Transit, stated, “With this delivery, we are reaching many significant benchmarks in our zero-emissions plans, such as our first 40-foot buses, our first autonomous pantograph charging, and our first joint venture with NYPA and Con Edison. I’m happy with the effort put in to get here, and we’re still determined to give low-income and minority communities that most need these buses priority when it comes to their deployment.
The MTA and Con Edison are working together to find fresh electricity for bus charging, which is a historic move. Building dedicated lanes for electric buses and reorganizing spaces to make room for overhead pantograph dispensers that charge buses are two of the steps involved in converting bus terminals to accept electric buses. The buses are effectively powered by these cutting-edge gadgets, guaranteeing that they are constantly prepared for use.
The MTA anticipates receiving its next order of 205 electric buses in late 2025, just after the delivery of these sixty buses. To increase the number of depots with electric buses to 11, the agencies are also discussing an option to acquire an additional 265 battery-electric buses at six depots beginning in 2027. This delivery expands upon the MTA’s 2019 order of fifteen zero-emission cars that are presently being used on Manhattan routes.
By 2040, the MTA plans to have all of its buses run entirely on renewable energy. The MTA will be able to prevent an additional 500,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually by having a fleet of buses with zero emissions.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer stated, “This $70 million government investment for 60 clean, electric MTA buses—$20 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—will cut the nasty diesel particulate pollution that causes so many asthma attacks in our neighborhoods. It will intensify the MTA’s and Governor Hochul’s efforts to electrify bus transportation and usher in an era devoid of pollutants.
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Today, these significant investments will put new electric buses on the roads of New York City and help the city build out charging infrastructure, curbing carbon emissions, decreasing pollution, and improving air quality. I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law to passage so that New York can have the federal funding needed to combat climate change. Bringing this enormous investment to our communities and guiding them toward a cleaner, more optimistic future makes me proud.
“There are some of the busiest bus routes in New York City,” stated Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York’s Eighth Congressional District. To provide much-needed relief to communities that are disproportionately affected by vehicle air pollution and a more dependable, energy-efficient journey for all New Yorkers, I applaud the MTA for their efforts to further electrify our bus fleet.
Representative Nydia M. Velázquez declared, “Millions of New Yorkers depend on public transportation to get where they need to go every day. It is the engine of our city.” Public transport that is electrified will contribute to emissions reduction and a greener future for our city. A vital step towards reaching zero emissions is the delivery of 60 brand-new electric buses today. I thank Governor Hochul and the MTA leadership for their hard work in securing the almost $70 million in federal money that allowed for the purchase of these new buses, and I was glad to support their efforts in Congress.
The president of Queens Borough, Donovan Richards, stated: “Unchecked emissions and fossil fuel consumption have had disastrous consequences on communities across Queens, especially our most historically marginalized neighborhoods, for generations.”
However, we’re making great strides in redressing that unfairness by introducing 60 new electric buses today. We appreciate the Hochul administration’s and the MTA’s unwavering dedication to developing a fleet of all-electric buses as we fight to protect our families and the environment. I’m excited to watch a lot more electric buses travel through Queens in the upcoming months and years.
