Comment Log Display

June 8, 2012

RE: Zero Emission Transit Bus Value Proposition -Argument for use
of Cap & Trade Proceeds for ZEB Mass Transit

Transit buses offer a cost effective means of reduction of vehicle
miles traveled, offering both significant fuel use and air
pollution reduction as cars are left at home. However, public bus
transportation has been deemphasized and de-funded in recent tight
budget years. Disadvantaged city communities are twice aggrieved by
this, losing public transport to get to work while the resultant
increase in traffic adds to criteria and GHG pollution. California
can be a national leader in replacing dirty fuel buses with quiet
and clean zero emission electric drive buses. An attractive and
convenient bus system, will lead to job creation and massive
reductions in emissions!

Zero emission transit buses were stipulated by the CARB ZEB rule
twelve years ago.   Although ZEB transit buses routinely operate at
demonstration sites in California, Connecticut and Canada,
widespread implementation will require assurances of continued
ability to fund the production of these buses and infrastructure.
It is proposed that the ARB receive supplemental funding at the
rate of $150M/year to implement the ZEB rule. Inner city use of
zero emission buses will directly address air quality equity
concerns, will increase ridership and reduce commuter traffic.  
Studies show that monies spent on public transit are the best
investment in job creation, with 36,000 jobs created or supported
per billion dollars of investment.   With recent capital cost
reductions in fuel cell hybrid and battery electric buses, and
federal matching funds supporting up to 80% of the cost of ZE
transit buses, the investment by California in the incremental bus
costs will result in real value for the State. Mature ZEB
technology has demonstrated equivalent or better vehicle
performance in multiple demonstrations, what is left in order to
realize the vision of the CARB ZEB rule is to reduce the production
costs of the buses through volume deployments. These Cap & Trade
proceeds present the opportunity to enable this.

This investment in Zero Emissions buses can have dramatic results:

•	The supplemental investment will result in annual GHG emission
reductions of near two million metric tons CO2per year.  For an
assumed 20 yr bus life, these emission reductions come at a price
to California of approximately $40/metric ton CO2 reduction. 
•	Fuel savings and ghg emissions reductions solely by transit bus
replacement would amount to near half the California Energy
Commission annual projected 2020 emissions reductions. 
•	Savings to the transit agencies from replacement of petroleum
based fuels by hydrogen and electric fuel (at a fraction of the
cost) will provide further fiduciary benefits over the bus life.
•	Health related benefits related to e.g. asthma, cancer are also
significant.