Episode title: The Challenges of Transition to Zero Emission Buses in Rural Areas

• Guest: Scott Bogren, Executive Director of the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)
• Topics discussed:
• The challenges of transitioning to zero emission buses in rural areas, including range limitations, lack of charging infrastructure, and political opposition
• How CTAA is working to help its members transition to zero emission buses
• The importance of equitable transition to zero emission buses, including in rural areas
• Key takeaways:
• The transition to zero emission buses is a complex challenge, especially in rural areas.
• There are a number of factors that make it difficult for rural transit agencies to transition to zero emission buses, including range limitations, lack of charging infrastructure, and political opposition.
• CTAA is working to help its members transition to zero emission buses by providing resources, technical assistance, and advocacy.
• It is important to ensure that the transition to zero emission buses is equitable, including in rural areas.
• Questions for discussion:
• What are some other challenges that rural transit agencies face in transitioning to zero emission buses?
• What can be done to address these challenges?
• How can we ensure that the transition to zero emission buses is equitable, including in rural areas?

• Scott Bogren on the challenges of transitioning to zero emission buses in rural areas:

The challenges of transitioning to zero emission buses in rural areas are significant. Range limitations, lack of charging infrastructure, and political opposition are all major challenges that rural transit agencies face.

Range limitations: Battery-electric buses have a shorter range than diesel buses, which can make it difficult for rural agencies to operate them on long routes. This is especially true in areas with cold winters, as the batteries lose range in cold weather.

Lack of charging infrastructure: Rural areas often lack the charging infrastructure needed to support a fleet of zero emission buses. This can make it difficult for agencies to find places to charge their buses, which can limit their operational flexibility.

Political opposition: In some rural areas, there is political opposition to the transition to zero emission buses. This is often due to concerns about the cost of the transition or the availability of charging infrastructure.

• Scott Bogren on how CTAA is helping its members transition to zero emission buses:

CTAA is working to help its members transition to zero emission buses by providing resources, technical assistance, and advocacy. CTAA has developed a number of resources to help agencies assess their readiness for the transition, identify funding opportunities, and select the right vehicles and infrastructure. CTAA also provides technical assistance to agencies through webinars, workshops, and one-on-one consultations. In addition, CTAA advocates on behalf of its members at the federal and state levels to ensure that they have the resources they need to make the transition to zero emission buses.

• Scott Bogren on the importance of equitable transition to zero emission buses, including in rural areas:

It is important to ensure that the transition to zero emission buses is equitable, including in rural areas. This means that all communities, regardless of size or location, should have access to the benefits of zero emission buses, such as reduced air pollution and improved public health. CTAA is committed to working with its members to ensure that the transition to zero emission buses is equitable for all communities.

• Scott Bogren on the challenges of transitioning to zero emission buses in rural areas:
• Range limitations: Battery-electric buses have a shorter range than diesel buses, which can make it difficult for rural agencies to operate them on long routes. This is especially true in areas with cold winters, as the batteries lose range in cold weather.
• Lack of charging infrastructure: Rural areas often lack the charging infrastructure needed to support a fleet of zero emission buses. This can make it difficult for agencies to find places to charge their buses, which can limit their operational flexibility.
• Political opposition: In some rural areas, there is political opposition to the transition to zero emission buses. This is often due to concerns about the cost of the transition or the availability of charging infrastructure.
• Scott Bogren on how CTAA is helping its members transition to zero emission buses:
• CTAA is working to help its members transition to zero emission buses by providing resources, technical assistance, and advocacy. CTAA has developed a number of resources to help agencies assess their readiness for the transition, identify funding opportunities, and select the right vehicles and infrastructure. CTAA also provides technical assistance to agencies through webinars, workshops, and one-on-one consultations. In addition, CTAA advocates on behalf of its members at the federal and state levels to ensure that they have the resources they need to make the transition to zero emission buses.
• Scott Bogren on the need for increased federal funding for zero emission buses:
• Scott Bogren believes that the federal government needs to increase funding for zero emission buses, especially for rural transit agencies. He argues that the current level of funding is not enough to meet the demand for zero emission buses, and that this is preventing many rural agencies from transitioning to a zero emission fleet.
• Scott Bogren on the future of zero emission buses in rural areas:
• Scott Bogren is optimistic about the future of zero emission buses in rural areas. He believes that the technology is improving rapidly, and that the cost of zero emission buses is coming down. He also believes that the political will to support the transition to zero emission buses is growing. As a result, he expects to see more and more rural transit agencies transitioning to a zero emission fleet in the coming years.
• Additional Highlights:
• Rural transit agencies face a number of challenges in transitioning to zero emission buses, including:
• High upfront costs
• Lack of local funding
• Complex procurement process
• However, there are also a number of opportunities for rural transit agencies to transition to zero emission buses, including:
• Federal funding programs
• Operational cost savings
• Reduced environmental impact
• Scott Bogren discussed a number of potential solutions to the challenges facing rural transit agencies, including:
• Increasing local funding
• Streamlining the procurement process
• Standardizing bus specifications
• Takeaways:
• The transition to zero emission buses is a complex challenge, but there are a number of opportunities for rural transit agencies to make the switch.
• Federal funding programs can help rural transit agencies offset the high upfront costs of zero emission buses.
• Operational cost savings can help rural transit agencies recoup the initial investment in zero emission buses.
• Reduced environmental impact is a major benefit of transitioning to zero emission buses.

• Topic: Workforce development and training gaps for battery electric buses
• Highlights:
• The transition to battery electric buses requires a new workforce with specialized skills.
• There is a lack of standardized training programs for battery electric bus maintenance and operations.
• Transit agencies need to work with community colleges and regional training centers to develop workforce development programs.
• The federal government is providing funding for workforce development, but more needs to be done to ensure that this funding is used effectively.
• Takeaways:
• The transition to battery electric buses is an opportunity to create new jobs and develop new skills.
• Transit agencies need to take a proactive approach to workforce development in order to ensure that they have the staff they need to operate battery electric buses.
• The federal government can play a role in supporting workforce development by providing funding and technical assistance.

Here are some additional points that were discussed in the podcast:

• The lack of standardized training programs for battery electric bus maintenance and operations is a major challenge. This makes it difficult for transit agencies to find qualified workers and to ensure that their current staff is properly trained.
• Transit agencies need to work with community colleges and regional training centers to develop workforce development programs that meet the specific needs of their operations. These programs should include training on the following topics:
• The technical aspects of battery electric buses
• The safety procedures for working with battery electric buses
• The operational requirements of battery electric buses
• The federal government is providing funding for workforce development, but more needs to be done to ensure that this funding is used effectively. The federal government should provide technical assistance to transit agencies to help them develop and implement workforce development programs.