Written by: Basant El-Farmawi
The Boston transit agency has agreed to purchase 65 hybrid buses at a cost of up to $83 million, a move aimed at modernizing its aging fleet, although these buses will not count toward the agency’s goals for a full transition to clean energy by 2028.
William Wolfgang, the agency’s director of vehicle engineering, explained that these new buses will rely on traditional diesel engines and electric batteries. They are scheduled for delivery in 2028 to replace old buses that have been operating on Massachusetts streets since at least 2008. Wolfgang noted that fully electric buses currently make up only about 10% of the total fleet, with 125 electric buses out of approximately 1,000.
Challenges of the transition to clean energy
This move comes at a time when the agency is facing challenges in meeting its stated goals of increasing the share of fully electric buses to 30% by 2028. The agency argues that hybrid buses contribute to reducing emissions and improving air quality without the need for massive, immediate investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
For his part, Phil Eng, the agency’s General Manager, described the hybrid bus deal as a step toward more reliable transit service, emphasizing that most of the deal’s value is funded by a $78 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration. Eng noted that the current focus is on maintaining the safety and reliability of the existing system while working toward building a low-carbon future.
Rail upgrades and public objections
The decisions were not limited to buses; the board of directors also approved the purchase of 10 diesel locomotives and 10 battery-electric locomotives for the rail system at a cost of $310 million. This operation aims to replace old locomotives, some of which are over 50 years old, with electric ones that are less noisy and reduce emissions by 80%.
These decisions have faced criticism from transit justice activists, who questioned the wisdom of buying vehicles that rely on fossil fuels at a time when full focus should be on expanding electric transit systems to achieve climate goals.
