MTA Showcases New Electric Bus Fleet For BK, Queens And Staten Island

BROOKLYN, NY — The MTA will be implementing 60 new electric buses that will operate in routes in Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn.

This announcement also includes installing 17 new bus charge points at Grand Avenue Bus Depot in Queens, officials said.

Another 46 charge points are under construction at the Herkimer lot in East New York in Brooklyn and the Charleston facility in Staten Island, to be complete by the end of the year.

In addition, an on-street charge point will serve buses needing to “top off” their batteries between daily runs is almost complete under the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza.

The new buses feature lightweight electric traction drive systems that allow buses to recover up to 90 percent of energy during braking. This regenerative braking reduces wear and tear on brakes and maximizes energy efficiency, officials said.

"These new electric buses will play a key role in ensuring New Yorkers can get to where they’re going safely and sustainably,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Zero-emission buses are becoming the hallmark of our transit systems, demonstrating the importance of building healthy, environmentally friendly cities."

The MTA has a goal of operating a 100 percent zero emission bus fleet by 2040.

A second phase of this electric bus initiative — costing $188 million — will bring 220 additional overhead charging systems to Grand Avenue and four other depots in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn.

"Every mile on these buses is a mile run less on fossil fuels—a victory every day for sustainability,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “As the largest public bus system in North America, we are leading the way to a greener future, revolutionizing public transportation, one electric bus at a time.”