SunLine Receives Federal Funds for Five Hydrogen Electric Hybrid Fuel Cell Buses

SunLine Transit Agency Receives $9.8 Million in Federal Funds for Five Hydrogen Electric Hybrid Fuel Cell Buses

Thousand Palms, CA – February 06, 2015:  SunLine Transit Agency, in partnership with the Southern California Association of Governments, has been awarded $9.8 million in federal funding to purchase and deploy five zero-emission buses.  Ballard Power Systems, BAE Systems and ElDorado National will team up to build the new zero-emission buses. These additional buses will increase SunLine’s current fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses to ten and allow the Agency to expand its service in the Coachella Valley.  

FTA received 50 project proposals. Priority was given to proposals that funded the incremental difference between a standard bus and a Low or No (LoNo) Emission Vehicle Deployment Program vehicle as a way to stretch procurement dollars.  Other key considerations were proposals which incorporated the highest level of U.S. made content and demonstrated a long-term commitment to expanding green energy bus fleets.  

SunLine Transit Agency CEO/General Manager, Lauren Skiver states, "SunLine continues to lead the way in the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell bus technology. SunLine maintains its focus on becoming a Center for Excellence for hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and this much needed funding will certainly move SunLine closer to its goal.”  SunLine Transit Agency is an industry leader in the use of zero-emission public transit in the United States and has earned international recognition for its cutting edge alternative fuel program. 

In keeping with the Agency’s commitment to hydrogen technology and sharing its knowledge through experience, SunLine is excited to be selected as host to the 2015 International Fuel Cell Bus Workshop at the end of this month. The Workshop is a key collaboration furthering national and international partnerships between global transit operators, zero-emission bus manufacturers, component suppliers, hydrogen infrastructure providers, regulators, and planners.

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About SunLine Transit Agency
SunLine Transit Agency is a joint powers authority formed in 1977 to operate the Coachella Valley’s public transportation system. Its fixed route and par transit vehicles travel more than 4 million miles per year, covering over 619 bus stops located throughout a 1,120 mile-service area, carrying approximately 4.7 million riders. SunLine offers fixed route bus service and curb-to-curb paratransit for the mobility impaired. To learn more, please visit www.sunline.org.