Green Energy Consumers Alliance has made it a priority to encourage the adoption of electric buses. In our discussions with some fleet operators, policymakers, and advocates, we have heard concerns about how electric buses operate in the winter. This slideshow is aimed at pointing out that electric buses are running in many places with harsher winters than we have in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. See for yourself!

1. WINTER IS COMING
But Electric Buses Can Handle It

2. Battery electric buses eliminate toxic
air pollution & greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions in a cost-effective way.
The deployment of battery electric buses
has been rapidly scaling up …
including in locations that have harsher
winters than Massachusetts & Rhode Island

3. Electric batteries lose range too,
but challenges can be overcome.
In cold weather, electric bus operators can:
● Use auxiliary heaters
● Use on-route chargers to top-off battery
● Pre-condition the vehicle while charging at depot
All batteries discharge more quickly when it’s cold.

4. The following slides show
examples of battery
electric bus deployments
in cold weather cities
around the world

5. WINNIPEG
Introduced first in 2014, electric buses run
on airport routes. The on-route pantograph
recharges the bus in 10 minutes after each
round trip.
“The longer-term advantage is toward electric buses.”
- Joint Task Force report to Winnipeg Transit

6. OSLO
Electric buses hit Oslo’s roads in
2018. Transit agency Ruter will be
operating 70 new electric buses
by the end of 2019.
“The electric bus grips the road well, and
that’s necessary in this city.”
- Harald Nesset, Operation Manager at
bus operator Nobina

7. CHICAGO
The Chicago Transit Authority
purchased 2 electric buses in
2014. Now it operates a fleet of
20, while planning to scale up.
“One of the best ways to reduce our carbon
emissions is by not only helping people get
public transit… but also cleaning our fleet at
the same time.”
- Chris Wheat, Chicago’s Chief
Sustainability Officer

8. HELSINKI
Helsinki introduced 12 electric buses in
2017 and added 30 more in 2019. It plans
to have ~300 electric buses by 2025.
“We are moving towards electric buses at a
great speed, helping to improve air quality in
Helsinki.”
- Suvi Rihtniemi, Helsinki Transportation
Authority Executive Director

9. NEW YORK CITY
MTA introduced 10 electric buses
in 2018 and plans to purchase 60
more by end of 2019. MTA
pledged to convert bus fleet to
all-electric by 2040.
“Communities of color have been
overburdened by noxious emissions [from
bus depots] for too long. We are pleased to
receive MTA's commitment to zero
emissions.“
- Eddie Bautista, executive director of the
New York City Environmental Justice
Alliance

10. PARK CITY
Park City, UT, purchased 6 electric
buses in 2017. In 2018, the city set the
goal of only purchasing electric buses.
The electric buses will make a contribution to
the reduction in local tailpipe emissions and
will assist with the county's climate action
goals."
- Glenn Wright, Summit County Council

11. JACKSON HOLE
The first electric bus entered service in
Teton County in winter 2019. Transit
agency START already purchased 8
more, to arrive in early 2020.
It’s been designed to meet the routes of Jackson.”
- Alan Westenkow, Director of Business
Development, Proterra

12. MINNEAPOLIS
Metro Transit introduced 8
electric buses in early 2019,
and it is planning to introduce
125 more by 2022 to phase out
diesel buses.
"This technology not only reduces
pollution; it makes our transit system
less vulnerable to drastic increases in
fuel prices.“
- Minneapolis Metropolitan Council

13. WORCESTER
The Worcester Regional Transit
Authority introduced the first
electric buses in 2016, and
currently operates 6 of them.
“The health of our neighborhoods, our
economy and our climate depend on a
switch to clean transportation.”
- Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty

14. BRECKENRIDGE
After deploying the first
electric bus in March 2018, the
city added 2 more in 2019 to
replace older diesel buses.
“The buses are part of the town’s plan
to encourage visitors to not bring cars
into Breckenridge when they visit.”
- Jesse Burley, Breckenridge
Sustainability Coordinator

15. MONTREAL
The city put the first 3 electric
buses in service in 2017. It ordered
4 more after one year and will
order only electric buses by 2025.
“People particularly enjoy the comfortable
ride and how silent the buses are”
- Martin Larose, Vice President and
General Manager of Nova Bus

16. EDMONTON
After accurate testing for cold
weather operations, Edmonton
will have 50 electric buses on the
road in early 2020.
“The electrification of our bus fleet will
allow us to accelerate our leadership on
energy transition and reduce Edmonton's
overall carbon footprint.“
- Mayor Ivenson

17. HAILAR
In December 2018, BYD K8 electric
buses and other models were
deployed in Hailar, China, for a
100-day test in extremely cold
weather.
“With the temperature dropping to -50F,
electric buses have so far successfully
endured the extreme weather conditions.”
- www.chinabuses.org

18. We hope you enjoyed the slideshow.
For more information, leave us a comment
or email paola@greenenergyconsumers.org