Converting to a Greener Bus Fleet
Here’s what we’re doing to create cleaner, quieter rides for everyone.
We’re committed to making our region a better place to live
Since 2022, we’ve been using renewable diesel for all our fixed-route buses and WES vehicles, as well as 100% renewable electricity for TriMet facilities, MAX and battery-electric buses. These changes have reduced our annual emissions by about 70%. We’ve also added more zero-emissions buses. We currently have 34 battery-electric buses in our fleet, up from the five we started with in 2019.
Battery-electric and fuel-cell buses
Battery-electric buses are in service on several routes where data about pollutants and demographics shows that these buses provide the greatest benefit to improving air quality near vulnerable populations.
We’re also pursuing fuel-cell buses for the 82nd Avenue Transit Project, thanks to a federal grant. Fuel-cell buses use hydrogen to power fuel cells that generate electricity on board, instead of storing it in large banks of batteries. Both types of buses use batteries and electric motors, but fuel-cell buses have a much longer range because the smaller batteries are continuously recharging.
Bus facilities
Adding different types of zero-emissions buses to our fleet requires new infrastructure at our maintenance facilities. We currently operate buses from three facilities. Two of our facilities now support battery-electric buses, and we’re adding infrastructure for fuel-cell buses at our Powell Operations Facility thanks to a federal grant.
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Center Operations Facility
• Built in 1978
• No zero-emissions bus infrastructure; significant renovation would be needed to support zero-emissions buses
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Powell Operations Facility
• Renovations completed in 2023
• 24 battery-electric bus chargers in place
• Plans in progress to add hydrogen storage and fueling to support the 82nd Avenue Transit Project
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Merlo Operations Facility
• Built in 1980; would need renovation to support hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses or articulated buses of any kind
• Some battery-electric bus chargers in place; more to be added over time
• Battery-electric buses operating from here also charge at Sunset Transit Center and (in the future) Beaverton Transit Center
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Columbia Operations Facility
• Currently supporting TriMet internal operations
Getting to zero emissions
The transition to a greener fleet will require additional technological improvements, investments in our facilities, and significant financial support from federal, state and local partners. We’ll keep you posted as this process continues.