PSTA unveils new electric buses that were purchased with Volkswagon settlement funds

Nov. 2, 2023

PSTA received $18 million through Florida DEP in 2022 after the car maker had to pay billions of dollars in government penalties for violating the Clean Air Act in 2017.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) unveiled new electric buses for the authority that were purchased for by Volkswagon as part of the government’s settlement with Volkswagen over claims the company violated the Clean Air Act in 2017. Through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), PSTA secured $18 million of the settlement money from Volkswagon in 2022 to purchase the new electric buses.

“[Florida] Gov. [Rob] DeSantis laid out the plan to use the Volkswagen settlement funds to invest in infrastructure for electric vehicles and one of the largest single investments is right here in Pinellas County,” said Kelley Boatwright, southwest director of the Florida DEP. “We all want Florida to remain clean and healthy for the future and this major effort in Pinellas County is a key step toward ensuring that for generations to come.”

Through this Volkswagen settlement funding and other sources, PSTA plans to replace dozens of retiring diesel buses with new electric ones in the near future—putting 14 on the road by the end of 2024 and reaching a total of 60 over the next three years. PSTA expects to save a total of 11 million gallons of diesel fuel over the life of the buses .

“PSTA is a national leader in sustainability and this shows you why: it's good for our planet and it's good for our wallets. Each electric bus reduces the carbon emissions that cause climate change, cutting them by 135 tons per year and each one costs less to operate, saving $20,000 each year,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller, who notes the white fuel tanks at PSTA headquarters hold 88,000 gallons of diesel fuel, which a fleet of 60 diesel buses will use all that fuel in six weeks.

Impact on Pinellas County

PSTA already operates Florida's largest fleet of hybrid-electric vehicles, with more than 80 hybrid buses in its fleet.

“Volkswagen lied and pumped extra pollution into Florida's air so they had to pay up. We went after a share of that money to reduce future pollution and continue PSTA's leadership in sustainability,” Miller said.