A set of two brand-new all-electric GILLIG Battery Electric Shuttle-UM buses have officially arrived at The University of Maryland.
Due to enter operation in autumn 2026; the buses were stationed on campus during the university’s EarthFest celebration, allowing students to get a sneak peek before service begins.
With an additional twenty-five additional all-electric buses scheduled to join the fleet by autumn 2027, the vehicles were purchased with funds from a 40 million USD grant provided by the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA), forming part of the Administration’s Low-No Program, which funded the buses, 16 charging stations, 32 charging ports and infrastructure work.
The buses – 16 of which are 35 feet long and 11 of which are 40 feet – will replace Shuttle-UM’s oldest existing units along all currently served routes.
In total, the vehicles are expected to save an estimated 130,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year, and come equipped with wider wheels to accommodate the added weight of seven batteries, USB ports between each pair of seats and UV air purifiers.
