The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has accepted an 8 million USD grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to deploy its first hydrogen fuel cell buses.
This funding will enable MTA to launch two hydrogen fuel cell buses and install a hydrogen fuelling station capable of fuelling up to 40 buses at the Gun Hill depot in the Bronx.
The buses will operate on eight routes serving disadvantaged communities in northeast and central Bronx to help overcome long-standing equity concerns regarding emissions and air-quality issues in this region.
New York City Transit (NYCT) President Richard Davey said:Today’s award is a historic moment for New York City Transit, as we prepare to deploy the first-ever hydrogen fuel cell buses at the MTA and in all of New York State.
As the MTA boldly moves towards a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040, demonstrating that hydrogen is a feasible and effective complement to our existing and future battery-electric fleet is a crucial next step. This grant will help us successfully showcase the role hydrogen fuel-cell buses have in the MTA’s zero-emission future.
The two hydrogen fuel cell buses will be 40-foot New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE H2 vehicles that have a range of over 300 miles. They will be powered with hydrogen primarily produced with renewable energy from hydropower.
These vehicles are expected to enter passenger service in New York by the end of 2024.
