The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will begin introducing hydrogen-powered buses to its fleet before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The LA Metro was awarded a $77.5m Low or No Emission grant this summer, utilised for zero-emission buses, new chargers and an expanded workforce. The fleet operator announced it would buy 20 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in April (2024), with additional purchase options for procuring up to 1,980 zero-emission vehicles.
The Los Angeles County Board Chair and Metro Board Member, Lindsey Horvath, claimed that the funding from the Federal Transit Administration will replace the Metro’s compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and support the transition to zero-emission operations.
“As we approach the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Metro will continue to showcase Los Angeles as a climate leader on the world stage, providing clean transportation options to athletes and attendees,” Horvath added.
The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation revealed in 2018 that all transit agencies in the state must operate all zero-emission fleets by 2040.
Up to 25% of bus purchases must be zero-emissions from 2023, 50% beginning in 2026 and 100% from 2029.
In 2022, the first hydrogen-powered public bus went into operation in Los Angeles County. Foothill Transit announced three vehicles would enter revenue service on Line 291, which serves Pomona, Claremont and La Verne.
H2 View understands that Foothill Transit’s maintenance yards include private hydrogen refuelling dispensers.
In March (2024), it was announced up to $16m of funding would be available to support the wider establishment of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure in California.
Read more: Commercial hydrogen refuelling to get a $16m funding boost in California
At the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, Toyota was an official transport partner of the event, providing over 2,600 electrified passenger vehicles, with 500 of them being the hydrogen-powered Mirai.
Read more:Toyota’s goals for a hydrogen Olympic legacy at Paris 2024
Speaking to H2 View, Toyota Europe’s R&D Vice-President, Thiebault Paquet, said the company wants to “promote sustainable mobility for all.” He added that the games were the “ideal event” to showcase what hydrogen can do.
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