'Green' Buses Are More Costly to Run. Three zero-emission buses purchased by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and SamTrans to run on hydrogen fuel have turned out to be far more costly to operate than expected. After a study, the VTA is reporting that these zero-emission buses cost $51.66 per mile to fuel, maintain and operate. This compares with $1.61 per mile to run a conventional diesel bus. The green bus also breaks down more frequently. Dolly Sandoval, VTA vice chair, called the difference exorbitant. She is questioning the state's push to use such green buses, and suggests following the New York City model of using diesel-hybrid buses.
According to the San Jose Mercury News: "The California Air Resources Board is poised next year to launch a $36 million second phase of the hydrogen program, adding 12 more buses in the Bay Area and expanding it to include Golden Gate Transit. Analisa Bevan with CARB said her agency 'is not considering any changes,' pointing out that the VTA experiment involves early prototypes and that the next generation of buses will be more reliable and cheaper to operate than diesel."
By 2012, the state is mandating that large transit agencies have 15 percent of their fleets comprised of the costly zero-emission buses. (Source: San Jose Mercury News, February 26.)
Cal-Taxletter February 29, 2008
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