Transition to Zero

In this episode with talk with Karl Gnadt from Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District in Champaign, IL and Kirt Conrad from Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) about their deployments of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Buses.

While Kirt had installed a storage tank for fuel to be trucked in, Karl took a different approach by building out a facility that can produce its own Hydrogen utilizing solar panels and selling excess power back into the grid.

This was an interesting exploration into what a transit operator experiences when utilizing Hydrogen in their fleet. There are great recommendations for the industry, specifically for OEMs, on improvements that can be made that will both extend range and decrease infrastructure costs.

Host: Jared Schnader, Senior Director, Bus Initiative Leader at CALSTART

Guests: Clinton Bench, Director of Fleet and Transit at UCLA, and Sharad Agarwal, Chief Operating Officer at Onward

Podcast Summary: In this episode, Jared Schnader discusses the future of autonomous vehicles (AVs), the intersection of electric and hydrogen vehicles, and the technological advancements in transportation with Clinton Bench and Sharad Agarwal. They dive into the return on investment (ROI) of these technologies, the upcoming opportunities at the 2028 Olympics, and how business models in the mobility sector need to adapt for sustainability. With an exclusive focus on the experiences of UCLA and broader observations from Onward, the discussion underscores the steps and challenges involved in achieving the goal of carbon neutrality in vehicle operations.

Key Takeaways:

1. University of California's carbon neutrality initiative aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025, and UCLA has reached about 33% electrification in its fleet.
2. One of the biggest challenges during electrification is the lack of infrastructure planning, particularly for charging capabilities.
3. Adaptive load management is essential to balance and prioritize electric charging needs.
4. Safety and cost reduction are the primary driving factors behind the push toward autonomous vehicles in transportation.
5. AVs have the potential to decrease long-term maintenance costs.
6. Challenges in AVs stem from integrating them into unpredictable environments rather than the technology itself.
7. The 2028 Olympics offers an opportunity to showcase zero-emission transportation.
8. The distinction and applications of battery-electric vs. hydrogen fuel cell technology are essential to the future of transportation, which should include a blend of hydrogen and electric vehicles.

Questions Covered During the Discussion:

1. What are the primary concerns in transitioning from 33% electrification to 100%?
2. What technologies do we need in the transportation sector?
3. How do subsidies influence the transition to electric vehicles?
4. What are the benefits of autonomous vehicles, and how do they fit into the zero-emission landscape?
5. How does the ROI look for AVs?
6. Why is the price of AV technology still high?
7. How can autonomous buses impact safety?
8. What challenges and innovations should we expect for the 2028 Olympics regarding transportation?
9. What are the hopes and realities of implementing AVs and advanced transport during the Olympics?
10. How has technology from transit percolated into trucking and vice versa?
11. What potential advancements can we expect for electric vs. hydrogen vehicles?

Discussion Highlights:

• Clinton delves deep into UCLA's experience, mentioning the university's aggressive push to electrify its fleet. Despite their impressive progress, they've faced challenges, particularly regarding charging infrastructure.
• Sharad underscores the importance of subsidies, especially in California, to support the growth of electric vehicles. He believes fleet-as-a-service could be a promising model and emphasizes the potential of electric vehicles acting as storage batteries.
• Safety is a primary reason to pursue AVs. The ROI in autonomous vehicles comes in terms of efficiency and the reduction of labor costs. AVs have the potential to standardize operations, leading to longer vehicle lifespans.
• The technology for dedicated autonomous vehicles has existed in Europe for two decades.
• The ideal 2028 Olympics includes a robust transportation system showcasing autonomous and electric vehicles.

Overall, the discussion comprehensively shows the challenges and opportunities in zero-emission transportation. Whether it's through electrification, better infrastructure planning, or the integration of autonomous vehicles, the future of transportation is evolving rapidly.

In this episode of the Transition to Zero podcast, host Jared Schnader talks with Alex Roman, Executive Editor of METRO Magazine, about the magazine's impact on the transit industry and the push towards zero emissions. The conversation also touches on the future of Metro Magazine, the undercurrents in the transit industry, the importance of transit as a career path, and the challenges of workforce shortages and declining ridership.

Key Takeaways:

• METRO Magazine is an important voice in the transit industry, with a focus on bus, motor coach, and rail transportation.
• Zero emissions are a critical goal for the transit industry.
• Electrification is a significant trend within the transit industry, requiring agencies to plan for the shift to zero-emission vehicles.
• The transit workforce is aging, creating a shortage of workers, and therefore transit agencies should be promoted as great career paths for younger generations.
• Ridership is declining, posing another significant challenge for the transit industry.
• There is a pressing need for innovative solutions to address these challenges, and unprecedented funding is aiding this process.

Questions Covered During the Discussion:

• What role does METRO Magazine play in the transit industry?
• How is the transition from print to online media affecting METRO Magazine?
• What are the current challenges and trends in the transit industry?
• How important is the transition to zero emissions for the industry?
• What is the future of ridership in the transit industry?
• What are workforce challenges does the transit industry face, and how can they be overcome?

Discussion Highlights:

• The transit industry is undergoing a significant shift towards electrification and zero emissions, and OEMs are divesting from their internal combustion engine lines.
• Transit agencies face issues such as an aging workforce and declining ridership, but unprecedented funding is helping to address these.
• Despite these challenges, the transit industry provides a promising career path, especially for younger generations.
• Ridership trends differ across regions, with larger cities seeing a significant decline while some smaller cities remain relatively unaffected.

Despite facing several challenges, the transit industry is at a critical turning point, supported by unprecedented funding and moving towards a zero-emission future. The transit industry can address issues like declining ridership by focusing on improving the customer experience and offering more flexible, innovative solutions. The sector offers promising career paths, especially for younger generations, and has the potential to contribute to reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality.

In this episode, "Zero Emission Cutaways: The Hurdles and Opportunities" of the "Transition to Zero" podcast with Jared Schnader, Joe Meer and Frank Dopp provide a comprehensive overview of the battery electric cutaway market. They delve into their research findings on the state of the industry, its potential, and the associated challenges. Meer, the Director of Cooperative Purchasing Programs at Basin Transit, and Dopp, the COO of Fleet Maintenance Specialists, highlight that while the market is still in its early stages, it is growing rapidly, with several vendors emerging with innovative battery-electric cutaways.

The duo also shares their insights on the market's challenges, including high vehicle costs, a lack of charging infrastructure, and the need for more standardized components. However, they also spotlight numerous opportunities, such as increasing demand for zero-emission vehicles, the burgeoning field of battery technology, and potential governmental incentives.

The conversation further extends to include the state of the electric bus market, the hurdles and potentials of zero-emission cutaways, and the importance of collaboration and information sharing within the industry to overcome the prevailing challenges.

Key Takeaways

1. The battery-electric cutaway market is still nascent but exhibits rapid growth, with several promising vendors emerging.
2. Quality control and careful vendor selection are essential due to the wide quality variance among electric cutaways.
3. Significant challenges include the high cost of vehicles, the lack of charging infrastructure, and the need for more standardized components.
4. Opportunities include increasing demand for zero-emission vehicles, developments in battery technology, and potential government incentives.
5. Battery technology plays a crucial role in the performance and reliability of electric cutaways.
6. Collaboration, information sharing, and government support are vital to address challenges and ensure the market's success.

Questions Covered During the Discussion

1. What are the challenges of the battery-electric cutaway market?
2. What are the opportunities in the battery-electric cutaway market?
3. What are the key factors to consider when purchasing an electric cutaway?
4. What are the best vendors of electric cutaways?
5. What are the biggest challenges to the battery-electric cutaway market?
6. What are the most noteworthy opportunities in the battery-electric cutaway market?
7. What steps must be taken to ensure the success of the battery-electric cutaway market?

Discussion Highlights

1. The nascent battery-electric cutaway market offers challenges and opportunities for vendors and buyers alike.
2. Quality control and vendor reputation are crucial considerations when purchasing an electric cutaway.
3. Battery technology, viewed as the "heart" of an electric vehicle, significantly impacts the vehicle's overall performance.
4. The market's success hinges on addressing its current challenges, such as high vehicle costs, lack of charging infrastructure, and the need for more standardized components.
5. Opportunities such as increasing demand for zero-emission vehicles, developments in battery technology, and potential government incentives can help the market thrive.
6. Collaboration, information sharing, and government support are necessary for overcoming the challenges faced by the zero-emission cutaways market.

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.

Release date: 6/27/2023

Host: Jared Schnader

Producer: Jared Schnader

Guests: Orville Thomas and Alissa Burger from CALSTART

Orville Thomas and Alissa Burger talk about incentive structures for state governments in order to create programs that help accelerate zero-emission fleet transitions. This discussion touches on how to best structure incentive programs, an overview of their recently released white paper on government incentive programs, and ways to drive down the cost of zero-emission vehicles.

The discussion ranged from invcentive structure pitfalls to the porblematic practice of custimizing buses. Orville states that "...transit agencies look at buses like Christmas trees they can hang as many ornaments on as possible". There are a number of really interesting points and areas of recommendation for state agencies, state and federal government, the FTA, and transit agencies.

• Guest: Kim Williams, Chief Innovation Officer for Houston Metro
• Host: Jared Schnader, Bus Initiative Lead for CALSTART
• Topics:
  • Houston Metro's commitment to zero emission buses planning for both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell
  • Kim Williams' role is Chief Innovation Officer
  • How Houston Metro evaluates emerging technologies
  • The importance of knowledge sharing among transit agencies

Show Notes:

• Houston Metro is committed to achieving zero emissions by 2050.
• Kim Williams is the Chief Innovation Officer for Houston Metro. In this role, she is responsible for exploring new technologies and strategies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Houston Metro.
• Williams believes in being "leading edge, not bleeding edge." She and her team evaluate emerging technologies by starting with the problem and then looking for solutions that have been tested and proven in other industries.
• Williams is a strong advocate for knowledge sharing. She regularly travels to conferences and events to share Houston Metro's experiences with other transit agencies.
• Houston Metro is a leader in the adoption of new technologies. For example, the agency has deployed a fleet of electric buses and is installing solar panels at its facilities.
• Williams is confident that Houston Metro can achieve its zero emissions goal. She is committed to making public transportation a more sustainable option for Houstonians.
• Houston Metro is evaluating battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies by deploying both at the same time, which has created a number of challenges.
• Houston created a climate action plan called "EVolve". By tying this policy to Houston Metro's Climate Action Plan, it created a greater opportunity to getting a Low-No grant from the FTA.
• Williams also spoke about the equity concerns that can be addressed by zero-emission transit. While EVs are still relatively expensive, a person's first EV may be a Bus on their way to purchasing their own EV.
• There was also a discussion around planning for resiliency scenarios from the grid and also how buses can be utilized as power export.

Quotes from the episode:

• "We want to be a leader in sustainability." - Kim Williams
• "We're always looking for new ways to use technology to improve the customer experience." - Kim Williams
• "Knowledge sharing is essential for transit agencies." - Kim Williams
• "We're confident that we can achieve our zero emissions goal." - Kim Williams

Takeaways:

• Houston Metro is a leader in the adoption of new technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public transportation.
• The Chief Innovation Officer plays a critical role in evaluating emerging technologies and finding solutions that meet the needs of the agency and its riders.
• Knowledge sharing is essential for transit agencies to learn from each other and improve their operations.
• Public transportation can play a key role in reducing emissions and improving air quality.

In this episode we talk with Stefan Tongur of Electreon. The discussions focuses on the constraints and challenges that are posed by current infrastructure models and the possibilities of in-ground, inductive charging. The interesting part is not that charging inductively can be done, which has been done for quite some time (think of your cell phone on a charging pad), but rather that Electreon offers a dynamic chaging technology.

They have piloted and demonstrated the technology across Europe and in Israel, and are now working with the city of Detroit to put in a wireless, dynamic charging along a route with both transit buses and commercial vans.

One of the most interesting parts of the discussion is the thought process of how this technology can be applied to existing roads and the potential opportunities this poses for both municipalities and private industry.

We sit down to talk with John Walsh, former VP at Proterra and now ZEV Consultant, and Jeff Madura, Director of Public Sales for VanHool North America. With decades of experience in manufacturing and sales between them, this conversation went through ways to streamline and reduce costs of ZEBs, the needs for Workforce Development, and the adaptation OEMs have had to do within the ever-changing market.

One of the biggest take-aways should be the need to address "customization" of transit buses. The amount of delays, increased costs, and overall price increases from this practice are something that many have pointed to as a barrier to cost reduction and something the Federal Transit Administration should take notice.

Some may see a Department of Transportation as a pass-through entity, but some DOTs have expanded their role in supporting their transit agencies, and it is paying off in unexpected ways. From organizing monthly technical meetings to being the go-to government state agency for zero-emission transition information, these DOTs have proven that supporting their state's transit transition comes with more benefits than just cleaner air.

Michigan DOT's, Jean Ruestman, and Iowa DOT's, Travis Estep sit down and talk about how they are supporting their transit agencies and what they have learned. In this episode you will hear about how taking the lead as a state government agency has reduced silos within the state government, how DOTs address technilogical equity, and support an emerging workforce.

Jared Schnader, CALSTART's Bus Initiative Lead, guides the conversation with both DOTs. His expertise in moderating and speaking on panels, and leading technical projects as a Subject Matter Expert in scalable zero-emission bus deployments lends an additional expertise to the conversation.

CALSTART, a non-profit consulting leader in zero-emission transportation technology planning and deployments, is bsaed in Pasadena, CA with offices across the US and Europe. With technical expertise in zero-emission Buses, Trucking, Off-Road, Agricultural, Innovative Mobility, Light-Duty vehicles, and supporting infrastructure, CALSTART also administers the nation's largest state incentive programs.

Additionally, CALSTART is hosting a member recption at the ACT Expo in Anaheim, CA. For more registration details, simply click the following link: Member Reception Registration