New York Bus Electrification Advances With 53 Overhead Bus Chargers

author: FutureCar Staff    

Construction is underway on 53 state-of-the-art overhead electric bus chargers at Metropolitan Transportation Authority depots in Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn, according to an announcement by Governor Kathy Hochul. The project, managed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), is part of a multi-year plan to prepare for the arrival of 60 new electric buses in early 2023. The infrastructure upgrades will support the MTA's growing zero-emissions bus fleet, reducing carbon emissions and serving as a model for other bus operators.

The first phase of the project, overseen by NYPA, involves building a total of 67 overhead and cabled dispensers across five locations. During a tour of the Grand Avenue Bus Depot and Central Maintenance Facility in Queens, Governor Hochul expressed her excitement about the progress and highlighted the importance of New York's leadership in climate action. She emphasized that the transformation of the bus fleet will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

The electrification project, which has a budget of $54 million, includes the installation of pantographs on overhead gantries at the Grand Avenue Bus Depot and Central Maintenance Facility. The bus depot is being restructured to accommodate the pantograph dispensers and dedicated lanes for electric buses to charge. Similar installations are taking place in an outdoor lot in East New York, Brooklyn, and at the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza. Additional overhead and cabled dispensers will be installed at the Kingsbridge depot in Manhattan and the Charleston depot in Staten Island. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2024.

Janno Lieber, the MTA Chair and CEO, praised the installation of electric bus chargers as a significant step towards the MTA's goal of transitioning to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040. Frank Annicaro, Senior Vice President of Buses at New York City Transit, also expressed his support for the project and its role in combating climate change. The NYPA is responsible for overseeing the design, procurement, and construction of the infrastructure upgrades.

The new infrastructure is part of the MTA's plan to upgrade its facilities and transition to a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040. Currently, the MTA operates about 15 electric buses, with an additional 60 buses expected to arrive in 2024. The MTA is also in the process of procuring 470 zero-emission and standard buses, which will be deployed across all five boroughs of New York City. The installation of supporting infrastructure at 11 depots is already underway.

The pantographs being installed are devices mounted on overhead structures that connect to direct current fast chargers. When a bus parks underneath, the pantograph dispenses power to recharge the onboard batteries. The overhead pantograph dispensers are designed to be compatible with buses from different manufacturers. This project, along with another ongoing initiative with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority in Buffalo, is the first of its kind in the Northeast.

New York State's climate agenda aims to achieve a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040 and economy-wide carbon neutrality by mid-century. The state has made significant investments in clean energy projects, including renewable energy generation, building emission reduction, and clean transportation initiatives. These investments have created thousands of jobs in the clean energy sector and have helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. New York has also implemented zero-emission vehicle regulations, requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2035.

Overall, the progress made in the electrification of the MTA's bus fleet and the installation of electric bus chargers represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation system in New York City.

FutureCar Staff