Montebello Bus Lines (MBL), the third largest municipal bus system in Los Angeles County, recently awarded a contract for the electrification and rehabilitation of three New Flyer buses to Complete Coach Works (CCW).
CCW says that MBL’s decision to remove the ISE gas hybrid system and convert to Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) buses was a positive step toward its goal of improving the quality of public transportation for its residents and surrounding communities.
ZEPS was developed by CCW as a rebuild option to remanufacture used buses with internal combustion engines into like-new vehicles containing ZEPS all-electric drivetrain system. CCW says the ZEPS buses are rebuilt with lightweight flooring, lightweight seats, lightweight windows and energy-efficient heating and cooling.
"The process of remanufacturing will improve the service life of the bus and reduce material waste, resulting in operational savings that benefit the environment. These buses will help America in its continued leadership in clean energy and also places MBL well on its way to complying with the new regulation that will be put into effect in the near future," CCW said in a press release.
The California Air Resources Board approved a mandate Dec. 14, which sets a statewide goal for public transit agencies to gradually transition to 100-percent zero-emission bus fleets. To successfully transition to an all zero-emission bus fleet by 2040, each transit agency will submit a rollout plan under the regulation demonstrating how it plans to purchase clean buses, build out necessary infrastructure and train the required workforce. The rollout plans are due in 2020 for large transit agencies and in 2023 for small agencies. Agencies will then follow a phased schedule from 2023 until 2029, by which date 100 percent of annual new bus purchases will be zero-emission. To encourage early action, the zero-emission purchase requirement would not start until 2025 if a minimum number of zero-emission bus purchases are made by the end of 2021
