New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced the purchase of 265 new zero-emission electric buses.
These buses will operate across New York City’s five boroughs, joining a fleet of 60 zero-emission buses added last year, with 205 more set to arrive later in 2025.
The 40-foot buses feature advanced electric traction systems that recover up to 90% of energy during braking, significantly reducing wear and enhancing efficiency.
Each bus is projected to lower greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 90 metric tons annually, aligning with the MTA’s goal of running a fully electric fleet by 2040. The transition will ultimately prevent 500,000 metric tons of emissions annually.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said:Transit is what makes New York the greenest City and the greenest region of the country. And these new buses, along with all the infrastructure upgrades to bus depots across the five boroughs, mean New Yorkers all over will soon be breathing cleaner air.
To support this expansion, the Jamaica Bus Depot in Queens is undergoing a comprehensive transformation. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the depot will include automated overhead pantograph charging systems, enabling seamless and efficient recharging for the electric fleet.
Other features include a green roof for improved insulation and stormwater management, noise-dampening barriers to address local concerns, and compliance with LEED sustainability standards.
The depot upgrades are part of a broader effort involving the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Con Edison to modernise bus depots citywide. Additional charging infrastructure will be deployed at the Gun Hill and Queens Village depots, with a focus on balancing electrical loads and ensuring reliable operations.
MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said:Operating a world-class, zero-emission bus fleet starts with upgrading and modernizing the facilities that serve them,” said. “Our work at the Jamaica Bus Depot and others across the five boroughs will pave the way for a seamless transition to cleaner, safer, more reliable bus service.
