J-11/Task 33 Final Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses Prepared for Transit Cooperative Research Program Transportation Research Board of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Meredith Linscott Amy Posner Center for Transportation and the Environment Atlanta, GA April 2020 Permission to use any unoriginal material has been obtained from all copyright holders as needed. Acknowledgements This work was sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration and was conducted in the Transit Cooperative Research Program, which is administered by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Author Acknowledgements The Center for Transportation and the Environment thanks the external reviewers that have made substantial contributions to this Guidebook: Judah Aber, Principal, EB START Consulting Erik Bigelow, Senior Engineering Consultant, Director of Midwest Operations, CTE Matt Boothe, Engineering Consultant, Propulsion Systems Specialist, CTE Steve Clermont, Senior Managing Consultant, Director of Planning and Deployment, CTE Andrew Daga, Chairman and CEO, Momentum Dynamics Joel Donham, Engineering Consultant, Aviation Applications Specialist, CTE Patrick Fiedler, President, Fiedler Group Jason Hanlin, Senior Engineering Consultant, Director of Technology Development, CTE Alexis Hedges, Associate, CTE Nathaniel Horadam, Managing Consultant, Automated Vehicle Specialist, CTE Jaimie Levin, Senior Managing Consultant, Director of West Coast Operations, CTE Kylie McCord, Senior Engineering Consultant, CTE Wendy Morgan, Managing Consultant, Director of Grants, CTE Alison Smyth, Engineering Consultant, Electric Utility Specialist, CTE Stuart Thompson, Principal, Transworld Associates Joel Torr, Managing Director, North America, ViriCiti Mike Tosca, Senior Engineering Consultant, Director of Hydrogen Infrastructure, CTE Blake Whitson, former Engineering Consultant, CTE Disclaimer This is an uncorrected draft as submitted by the contractor. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied herein are those of the contractor. They are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the Academies, or the program sponsors. Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses i Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... xi Introduction .................................................................................................................................. xii ZEB TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW ............................................................................................. xvii 1 Phase 1 –Assess your Needs and Requirements ................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Key Stakeholder Considerations ................................................................................. 1-2 1.3 Start Planning for ZEBs ............................................................................................... 1-3 1.3.1 Technological advancements ............................................................................. 1-6 1.4 Stakeholder Engagement ........................................................................................... 1-6 1.4.1 Transit Agency Staff ............................................................................................ 1-6 1.4.2 External Stakeholders ......................................................................................... 1-8 1.5 Data Collection ......................................................................................................... 1-10 1.6 Fleet Transition Considerations ................................................................................ 1-11 1.7 Additional Resources ................................................................................................ 1-12 2 Phase 2 –Technology Selection and Specification .............................................................. 2-1 2.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Key Stakeholder Considerations ................................................................................. 2-2 2.3 Bus Performance Evaluation ...................................................................................... 2-3 2.3.1 Bus Modeling and Simulation Considerations .................................................... 2-3 2.3.2 Bus Modeling and Route Simulation Approach .................................................. 2-4 2.4 Technology Selection .................................................................................................. 2-8 2.5 Procurement Considerations ...................................................................................... 2-9 2.5.1 Technical Specifications ...................................................................................... 2-9 2.5.1.1 Bus Specifications ......................................................................................... 2-10 2.5.1.2 Fueling Infrastructure Specifications ............................................................ 2-13 2.5.2 Acceptance Criteria .......................................................................................... 2-17 2.5.3 Major Component Useful Life and Warranty Considerations .......................... 2-18 2.5.4 Documentation and Training ............................................................................ 2-19 2.5.5 Contract Negotiation ........................................................................................ 2-20 2.6 Additional Resources ................................................................................................ 2-21 3 Phase 3 – Capital Costs & Funding Opportunities .............................................................. 3-1 Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses i 3.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Key Stakeholder Considerations ................................................................................. 3-2 3.3 Capital Costs ............................................................................................................... 3-3 3.4 ZEB Deployment Support ........................................................................................... 3-9 3.4.1 Planning Initiatives ........................................................................................... 3-11 3.4.2 Financial Support .............................................................................................. 3-11 3.4.2.1 Federal Funding ............................................................................................ 3-11 3.4.2.2 State Funding ................................................................................................ 3-11 3.4.2.3 Utilities .......................................................................................................... 3-12 3.5 Additional Resources ................................................................................................ 3-13 4 Phase 4 –Fueling Infrastructure Strategy and Cost ............................................................ 4-1 4.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Key Stakeholder Considerations ................................................................................. 4-2 4.3 Battery Electric Buses and Utility Rate Analysis ......................................................... 4-3 4.3.1 Understanding your Electricity Bill ..................................................................... 4-3 4.3.2 Electric Bill Charges ............................................................................................. 4-4 4.3.3 Fixed Costs .......................................................................................................... 4-5 4.3.4 Energy Charges ................................................................................................... 4-5 4.3.5 Demand Charges ................................................................................................. 4-5 4.3.6 Other Charges ..................................................................................................... 4-7 4.4 Typical Rate Structures ............................................................................................... 4-8 4.4.1 Tiered (or Step) Rate ........................................................................................... 4-8 4.4.2 Time of Use Rate ................................................................................................. 4-8 4.4.3 Critical Peak Pricing ............................................................................................ 4-9 4.5 Hydrogen Fuel Costs ................................................................................................... 4-9 4.5.1 Electricity Costs ................................................................................................. 4-10 4.5.2 Hydrogen Costs ................................................................................................. 4-11 4.6 Electricity Rate Modeling .........................................................................................