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Yesterday, the Antelope Valley Transit Agency, A Los Angeles County transportation agency, yesterday pledged to convert to an all-electric fleet of buses. There are 85 buses in this fleet, so this announcement represents one of the largest zero emission bus commitments in the US to date.
Right now, oil leads to about 40% of the carbon pollution in the US. As we shift away from oil and toward other sources of fuel, we will see a major reduction in carbon emission. Traditional buses run on diesel fuel, which emits 40 toxic air contaminants shown to lead to or worsen diseases like asthma and cancer. Low-income communities and communities of color often bear the brunt of dangerous bus pollution. A switch to zero emission buses is key to reducing vehicle emissions, reducing carbon emissions, and improving community health.
Each zero emission bus will reduce carbon emissions by upwards of 270,000 pounds per year compared to diesel and CNG buses. These improvements factor in the emissions from the electricity used to power the buses. And as we shift to cleaner sources of electricity, battery electric or fuel cell buses (especially when the hydrogen is derived from solar power) become even cleaner over time.
In response, Sierra Club Electric Vehicle Initiative Director Gina Coplon-Newfield released the following statement:
“A switch to zero emission buses, which require no gasoline and emit no tailpipe pollution, presents a critical opportunity to slash pollution, reduce oil dependence, and make our cities safer. It’s time for transit agencies around the country to jump on board with the Antelope Valley Transit Agency’s important clean transportation decision.”
