The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the city of Medicine Hat, Alberta, are investing in zero-emission vehicles for its respective fleets.
CDOT
On Aug. 23, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and CDOT revealed $31.7 million in new grants to help local governments, nonprofits and service providers continue the state of Colorado’s transition to electric vehicles, including transit buses. Out of the $31.7 million in funding, $15 million will be used by the Colorado Clean Transit Enterprise (CTE) board to fund new vehicles and infrastructure improvements while $16.7 million from the Volkswagen (VW) Settlement Program will be invested in electric transit buses and associated charging infrastructure. The CTE and VW programs combined will bring 28 new electric transit buses to the state.
“Coloradans are excited about the future of electric vehicles (EV) and Colorado continues to be a national leader in EV sales. This support will help ensure that Colorado’s EV transition doesn’t stop at personal vehicles but makes our buses and public transportation options cleaner, too. Colorado continues to expand transportation options that get Coloradans where we need to go and reduce pollution,” said Gov. Polis.
The CTE grant awards will invest $1.5 million for one facility project, $384,000 for one infrastructure project and $13.1 million for nine vehicle projects. The VW grant awards will invest $16.7 million for three vehicle projects.
“This is an exciting milestone for the state of Colorado’s commitment to high-quality transit that contributes twice-over to cleaner air for us all. Not only do the transit services receiving these awards offer great service to local residents that gives them an option other than their cars, these funds will also invest in state-of-the-art vehicles and infrastructure that will make those transit trips the cleanest possible option,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.
The VW Settlement Program was established as a result of the national VW Settlement designed to offset the impacts of a diesel emissions cheating scandal. In Colorado, a portion of the funds received by the state are available to fund the direct replacement of pre-2009 Class 4-8 conventionally powered transit vehicles with new zero-emission transit vehicles - specifically battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell or compressed natural gas vehicles fueled by renewable natural gas.
Details for the award recipients can be found on CDOT’s website.
City of Medicine Hat
The city of Madison Hat will be transitioning its transit fleet to zero-emissions thanks to a combined investment of C$198,116 (US$146,996) from the city and the government of Canada.
The investment will support the city in examining the economic feasibility and the technological and environmental considerations for fleet electrification while also identifying and planning for risks and key barriers.
The government of Canada is contributing C$158,493 (US$117,607) to this project through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF). The city of Medicine Hat is contributing C$39,623 (US$29,401).
Through an agreement with the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), the government of Canada is investing C$10 million (US$7.4 million) through the ZETF during the next five years to help transit bus operators to complete planning work and increase their level of readiness to transition to zero-emission bus fleets.
“By moving to electric vehicles, we can help cut pollution and build a cleaner and stronger economy. We are proud to collaborate with Medicine Hat and CUTRIC to build greener and more efficient public transit systems that Canadians can rely on,” said Sean Fraser, Canada’s minister of housing, infrastructure and communities.
“We’re charging forward in finding solutions to lower carbon emissions from our public transit fleet. This collaboration with CUTRIC and the investment from the government of Canada through the Zero Emission Transit Fund is critical in assisting the city of Medicine Hat further pursue our efforts towards a more resilient and sustainable future,” said City of Medicine Hat Acting Director of Community Development Aaron Nelson.
CUTRIC’s mission is to support the commercialization of technologies through industry-led collaborative research, development, demonstration and integration projects that bring innovative design to Canada’s low-carbon smart mobility ecosystem.
“We’re proud to join forces with the Medicine Hat community and the government of Canada to revolutionize public transit. By forging ahead together, we are paving the way for the emergence of greener, more sustainable transit systems powered by the innovation of electric vehicles. This collaboration stands as a testament to our collective commitment to reducing emissions, nurturing a cleaner economy and building a more environmentally conscious future for all Albertans and Canadians,” said Josipa Petrunic, CUTRIC president and CEO.
