Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JULY 16, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: ZERO EMISSION BUS (ZEB) PROGRAM UPDATE
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE status update on the ZEB Program.
Issue
ISSUE
This report provides a status update on the ZEB transition plan, including bus acquisition, division electrification, and upcoming program activities.
Background
BACKGROUND
In July 2017, the Board approved Motion 50 by Directors Bonin, Garcetti, Najarian, Hahn, and Solis (Attachment A), which endorsed a ZEB Strategic Plan to transition Metro’s entire bus fleet to zero-emission by 2030. This was contingent upon cost and performance equivalence with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, as well as continued advancements in charging infrastructure. In 2018, the California Air Resources Board (CARB)’s Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation mandated that all transit agencies in the state operate zero-emission fleets by 2040. In addition, ICT ZEB purchase requirements for large transit agencies require 25% of bus purchases to be zero emission by 2023, 50% by 2026, and 100% by 2029.
Metro has met all state-mandated program requirements. Furthermore, since October 2020, Metro has powered its bus fleet with 100% Renewable Natural Gas. Since the Board endorsed the ZEB Strategic Plan, staff prepared a ZEB Master Plan in 2022 and a Master Plan Update in 2023. In September 2024, staff prepared a more detailed plan to deliver a 100% ZEB fleet no later than 2035. This ensures Metro’s ability to continue providing reliable bus service, including availability of operations and maintenance funding to support the full seven million annualized revenue service hours as planned through the NextGen Bus Plan.
In 2021, Metro electrified the G Line, which has accumulated more than six million miles of zero-emission service to date. In 2025, Metro installed all charging infrastructure to electrify the J Line. Electrification of Division 9 (El Monte) will be complete in late 2026, and design is underway for Divisions 18 (Carson) and 7 (West Hollywood).
In December 2025, Metro electrified the J Line. However, in January 2026, a mechanical problem with the BYD buses caused a pause in battery electric bus (BEB) service. Staff worked with BYD to determine the cause of the issue. Repairs are in progress, and BEBs are returning to the J Line.
Key developments from the last ZEB Program update include:
• Metro closed the response period for its 220 BEB solicitation, with the contract award pending Board approval.
• Metro launched and completed an extended range BEB pilot with Ebusco.
• Division electrification projects at Divisions 9, 18, and 7 continue to progress.
• Installation of the 8 replacement on-route chargers on the G Line is complete.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Current ZEB Fleet and Incoming Deliveries
Metro currently owns 140 ZEBs (representing 6.46% of the total bus fleet). An additional 9 BYD K9MD model buses are in production and will be delivered in 2026.
Metro will receive a transfer of 19 New Flyer battery-electric buses (BEBs), ranging in age from 3 to 4 years, from Lane Transit District in FY27, pending final regulatory approvals.
New Bus Acquisitions
In December 2025, Metro released two Requests for Proposals (RFPs), one for 220 BEBs, and another for 20 BEBs, for a total base buy of 240 BEBs, including options for up to 1,600 additional buses. The first contract for 220 BEB .
Metro is leveraging the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services contract to procure up to 40 BEBs targeting delivery to begin by the end of FY27.
Extended Range BEB Pilot
In April 2026, Metro launched a 6-week pilot of a 40-foot BEB manufactured by Netherlands-based Ebusco. With its lightweight body, the Ebusco bus advertises high battery energy efficiency and a range exceeding 300 miles on a single charge. The bus operated in shadow service in downtown Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley to ensure operational compatibility with Metro’s service. The Ebusco BEB showed substantially improved energy efficiency, being 2.2 to 3.3 times more efficient than existing Metro BEBs, and it has an estimated range of over 300 miles per charge, exceeding the current BEB fleet's range by more than 100 miles.
Division Electrification
Metro’s bus fleet operates out of ten directly-operated and two contract-operated bus divisions. Metro’s current plan to electrify its fleet anticipates electrification of all bus divisions no later than 2035. Since the last program update, staff have re-evaluated the division electrification schedule and re-sequenced the order. Staff evaluated several key considerations including fleet composition, block distance, demand load, utility capacity, site constraints, impact to operations, cost, and other factors. The evaluation identified structural, operational, and utility capacity constraints at Divisions 5 and 13, which would likely impact the program delivery schedule. Therefore, Divisions 2 and 3, which represent the better options for division electrification, were moved up in the sequence to follow Divisions 9, 18, and 7, which will be the first three divisions to be electrified. No changes have been made to the 2035 timeline for program delivery. Staff will continue to evaluate the division electrification sequence at key program milestones and make adjustments as necessary to support achievement of schedule goals.
While staff have made adjustments to the sequence, it is important to note that funds for Division 2 electrification and the subsequent divisions have not yet been identified. While staff continue to advance an aggressive grant strategy for the ZEB program funding, a lack of funding represents a schedule risk for program delivery. In the event of a funding shortfall for full electrification of Division 2, the project could be scaled to available funding. Staff will continue to seek grant opportunities available to the project.
Division 9 civil construction was completed in February 2026, and the gantry structure was handed over for installation and commissioning of the four depot pantograph charging clusters. Pantographs have been mounted. Connecting hardware installation and wire pulling is in progress. Installation and commissioning will continue through Fall 2026, with the first charging cluster commissioned by this Summer.
Preconstruction Phase I of the Division 18 and 7 Progressive Design Build Operate and Maintain (PDBOM) contract is underway. Phase I consists of design, constructability review, site investigations, risk assessment, and schedule and phasing development. The project will construct charging infrastructure to power more than 400 BEBs between the two divisions.
En Route Charging Projects
Several stations across Metro’s bus network have been identified as candidates to install en route charging to support BEBs that operate on lines with long bus blocks that cannot be completed without additional charging time during the work day. These lines include the North San Fernando Valley Transit Improvements Project, North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT, G Line, and J Line.
Metro has issued consultant task orders to prepare 100% design packages for the en route charging sites that will support the North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT and North San Fernando Valley Transit Improvements Project. The sites include North Hollywood Transit Center, Universal/Studio City Station, and Divisions 8 and 15. Charging equipment has been procured, utility service requests have been submitted, and staff aim to construct these sites no later than 2028.
All replacement opportunity chargers on the G Line have been commissioned and are in use to support G Line BEBs.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The purpose of this report is to provide a program-level status update; project-specific equity impacts are discussed in detail in their respective project reports. Divisions 9 is located within Equity Focus Community (EFC). Because residents of EFCs may have a higher reliance on bus transit, delays to the electrification schedule could disproportionately impact EFCs by delaying air quality improvements through emissions reductions. However, despite these risks, the division electrification schedule and achievement of related air quality improvements currently remain on track.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through operational activities that will maintain and encourage transit ridership. Metro’s transition to a ZEB fleet will enhance the customer experience with vehicles that are quiet and use zero-emission technology. Metro’s Board-approved VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The report supports Goal #3 to enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity and Goal #4 to transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue to deliver on the charging infrastructure projects at Divisions 9, 18, and 7. Staff will also continue evaluating proposals to the bus procurements and will return to the Board this summer with recommendations for award.
Attachments
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A - Board Motion 50
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Shaun Miller, Deputy Executive Officer, Project Management (213) 922-4952
Amy Romero, Deputy Executive Officer, Project Management (213) 922-5709
Matthew Dake, Deputy Chief Operations Officer, Vehicle Maintenance & Engineering, (213) 922-4061
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3034