ABSTRACT

Several states and transit agencies have recently introduced zero-emission buses (ZEBs) to their fleets, including battery electric buses, fuel cell battery electric buses, and fuel cell plug-in hybrid electric buses in an effort to mitigate transportation-related impacts on air quality. The objective of this paper was to summarise information and insights from ZEB implementations across the United States (U.S.) to advance the state of practice and facilitate transit agencies’ transition to ZEBs. Information was obtained through a critical review of relevant literature from peer-reviewed journals and agency reports released by transit agencies and other relevant stakeholders, an online survey of several transit agencies that implemented or are planning to implement ZEBs, and interviews with transit agency representatives and other relevant stakeholders. This review focuses on ZEB in-service performance, cost, fuelling, and implementation strategies. In addition, challenges and lessons learned as reported by U.S. transit agencies are described. A comparison among the three technologies and conventional fuel buses (i.e. diesel and compressed natural gas) suggests that ZEBs outperform conventional buses in terms of fuel efficiency, but their procurement cost is higher. Battery electric buses present the highest fuel efficiency and lowest procurement, operation, and maintenance costs, and have been chosen by most transit agencies followed by fuel cell battery electric buses. While fuel cell hybrid plug-in buses have been implemented by several agencies over the past ten years, they have not gained popularity due to increased purchase and maintenance costs. Important factors for agencies to consider when implementing any of these ZEB technologies include: (1) fleet size: starting with a small fleet and gradually expanding; (2) technology type: understanding the technology and properly choosing the one that matches the needs and limitations of a service area (e.g. available space, existing schedule) as well as available resources and agency goals; (3) staff training: proper training for a suitable amount of time of drivers and maintenance personnel; and (4) stakeholder collaboration: having an effective level of collaboration, cooperation, and support between stakeholders. Overall, ZEBs are a viable and promising approach for reducing emissions from transit fleets. This review can assist in transit agencies’ transition to ZEB fleets by providing useful information and insights to ensure optimal technology choice and efficient implementations. It can also provide insights on ZEB implementation issues that warrant further research.

摘要

几个州和运输机构最近向其车队引入了零排放公交车（ZEB），包括电池电动公交车，燃料电池电动公交车和燃料电池插电式混合动力公交车，以减轻与运输相关的对空气的影响质量。本文的目的是总结来自美国（美国）的ZEB实施的信息和见解，以提高实践水平并促进过境机构向ZEB过渡。信息是通过对相关文献的严格审查而获得的，这些文献是从同行评审的期刊和运输机构及其他相关利益相关方发布的机构报告中获得的，是对已经实施或计划实施ZEB的多个运输机构的在线调查，以及与运输机构代表和其他相关利益方的访谈。此次审查的重点是ZEB在役性能，成本，加油和实施策略。此外，还介绍了美国过境机构报告的挑战和经验教训。三种技术与常规燃料客车（即柴油和压缩天然气）的比较表明，ZEB在燃料效率方面优于常规客车，但其采购成本较高。电池电动公交车具有最高的燃油效率和最低的采购，运营和维护成本，并且被大多数运输机构选择，其次是燃料电池电动公交车。过去十年来，虽然多家机构已经实施了燃料电池混合动力插入式公交车，由于购买和维护成本增加，它们尚未获得普及。机构在实施任何ZEB技术时要考虑的重要因素包括：（1）机队规模：从小型机队开始，逐步扩展；（2）技术类型：理解技术和正确选择相匹配的服务区域的需求和限制的一个（例如可用空间，现有计划），以及可利用的资源和机构的目标; （3）人员培训：对驾驶员和维修人员进行适当时间的适当培训；（4）利益相关者协作：在利益相关者之间具有有效的协作，合作和支持水平。总体而言，零排放区是减少过境车队排放的可行且有前途的方法。通过提供有用的信息和见解，以确保最佳的技术选择和有效的实施，此审查可以帮助运输机构过渡到ZEB车队。它还可以提供有关ZEB实施问题的见解，值得进一步研究。