Overview
SEPTA is striving to transition its diesel-electric hybrid buses to a fully zero-emissions fleet by 2040 to ensure a clean, sustainable and resilient future. By transitioning to zero-emission buses (ZEBs), combined with reducing car dependency, we aim to significantly improve regional air quality and make a lasting environmental impact.
SEPTA’s 2022 ZEB Playbook provides strategic direction for transitioning to all ZEBs and includes where to prioritize initial investments and next steps for piloting concepts and beginning the implementation process.
The ZEB transition period will include significant facility upgrades that need to be planned years in advance, while also monitoring constant improvements in ZEB technology. Navigating this dynamic will require a flexible approach within the context of a longer-term vision that can continue to be refined over time.
ZEB Benefits
- • Zero tailpipe emissions: ZEBs’ all-electric propulsion systems eliminate direct, local air pollution, helping to achieve better air quality and protect the health of the local communities where they operate.
- • Lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: ZEBs produce fewer GHG emissions than fossil-fuel powered vehicles, especially when the electricity used to charge batteries or produce hydrogen fuel is generated from renewable energy sources.
- • Decreased noise pollution: ZEBs produce less noise than diesel and hybrid buses as they do not have traditional combustion engines.
ZEB Technologies
SEPTA is taking a pilot approach to evaluating ZEB technologies to ensure we are making data-informed decisions when it comes to our future bus fleet. ZEB technologies are advancing rapidly, and different ZEB types vary in performance characteristics and levels of compatibility with SEPTA’s bus schedules. Pilots are an essential step in gathering data and understanding the performance, feasibility and tradeoffs of ZEB options in real-world operations.
Over the next few years, SEPTA’s ZEB pilots will evaluate the performance of battery electric buses (BEBs) and hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) to see how well each technology meets SEPTA’s service requirements. SEPTA will collect and analyze ZEB data throughout the pilot phase (anticipated to continue through 2027) to inform decisions around future fleet makeup, which will likely include a combination of BEBs and FCEBs.
Beginning in 2026, SEPTA will also transition to fully electric trackless trolleys (trolleybuses), which are rubber-tired electric vehicles with two poles on top that connect with overhead wires. SEPTA’s trackless trolleys require overhead wire for the entire length of each route, though they can travel off-wire for a limited time using backup power (currently diesel). The new generation of fully electric trackless trolleys will replace the backup diesel engines with batteries, making them completely zero emission.
Building a Lifestyle Transit Network
As part of our 12-year capital investment program, we’re making stations accessible, acquiring new vehicles, investing in communications and upgrading services for our buses, Metro and rail to deliver on our vision of easy to use, frequent and integrated transit.
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Learn more about SEPTA’s ZEB Program at upcoming events:
Pop-Up at LOVE Park – December 21, 2 pm to 5 pm
Anticipated ZEB Pilot Timeline
2025: Ten 40-foot fuel cell electric buses.
2026: Ten 40-foot battery electric buses, five 60-foot battery buses, five 60-foot fuel cell electric buses, and convert twelve 40-foot diesel hybrid buses to battery electric.
2040: Targeting 100% of SEPTA’s bus fleet to be zero emission technology.
Pilot Program Details
Hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) are powered by a small battery which is continually recharged by a hydrogen fuel cell (pressurized hydrogen gas).
Pros:
- ✔ Operate silently
- ✔ Only direct emissions are heat and water vapor
- ✔ Larger operating range
- ✔ Faster fueling time
Cons:
- ✘ Limited hydrogen infrastructure siting locations
- ✘ Currently limited availability of “green” hydrogen fuel (hydrogen produced with renewable electricity)
- ✘ Creating hydrogen is energy and water intensive
In 2023, SEPTA conducted a FCEB Facility Analysis of requirements, conceptual facility layouts and estimated costs to install hydrogen storage and fueling facilities.
SEPTA will begin piloting ten 40-foot New Flyer Hydrogen FCEBs in 2025. The FCEBs will be fueled at SEPTA’s Midvale station; Plug Power will supply liquid hydrogen to the Midvale fueling station under a three-year contract.
SEPTA plans to begin piloting five 60-foot hydrogen FCEBs in 2026.
Battery electric buses (BEBs) are powered by on-board batteries that can be charged on-route or at the bus depot via plug-in, overhead conductive (pantograph) or inductive charging technologies.
Pros:
- ✔ Operate silently
- ✔ Zero direct emissions
- ✔ Simpler transmission system
Cons:
- ✘ Reduced efficiency during cold weather
- ✘ Battery range limitations
- ✘ Slower fueling (charging) time
SEPTA initiated an early BEB pilot in 2019 but removed the buses from service in February 2020 as they did not meet performance needs at that time. Since the initial pilot, there have been a number of advancements in BEB technologies, including improvements in range limitations.
In 2024, SEPTA conducted a BEB Facility Analysis to revisit the potential for BEBs and further investigate the cost and facility impacts of battery-electric infrastructure.
SEPTA plans to begin piloting the following BEBs in 2026:
- Twelve 40-foot BEBs retrofitted/converted from diesel-hybrid buses
- Ten 40-foot BEBs
- Five 60-foot BEBs