Los Angeles will see delivery of 155 electric buses in the next two years

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is well on its way of converting its entire fleet to zero emissions by the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games with an order of 155 buses that will be put into service on its network in the next two years.  

The buses are part of the largest single order for electric buses in U.S. history that was originally unveiled last fall. Most of the new vehicles will be BYD manufactured K7M buses, with Proterra manufacturing the remainder of the zero-emission vehicle order.

“The clean transportation revolution is not a distant dream — it’s happening on L.A.’s streets right now,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Seeing these zero-emission buses rolling down our roads in the years ahead will bring us one step closer to realizing our vision of cleaner air, lower emissions, healthier communities and a more sustainable future for all Angelenos.”

LADOT’s first electric bus entered service in 2017 and the record-setting order of 155 new vehicles supports the core goals of Mayor Garcetti’s recently signed Executive Directive — “L.A.’s Green New Deal: Leading By Example.”

“If we do not get off fossil fuels, we are killing our kids and their planet. Fortunately, Los Angeles has the ability to make a big impact in combating the climate crisis,” said Councilmember Mike Bonin

Los Angeles’ goal of converting its transit bus fleet to 100 percent zero emissions carries a deadline that is a dozen years ahead of the state’s mandate from the California Air Resources Board that all public transit agencies transition their fleets to zero emission by 2040.

"Los Angeles is making a bold investment in a clean transportation future," said LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds. "These 155 buses will save the city money on fuel costs and improve air quality and health for families across the region we serve."

An event marking the order was held last week at LADOT’s new, state-of-the-art bus maintenance yard — a three-acre, LEED Platinum-certified facility with solar panel canopies and electric vehicle charging infrastructure to allow for the service of up to 70 buses, making it one of the largest EV bus facilities in the state.

LADOT’s purchase of the 155 vehicles was funded using grants from the Federal Transit Administration; the State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program; California Hybrid and Zero-Emissions Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program; Transformative Climate Communities; Low Carbon Transit Operations Program; Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee and matching city funds.