By Danielle Ngamegni
In an effort to promote sustainable energy use, the University of Maryland is introducing two fully electric buses to the Shuttle-UM fleet.
The Federal Transit Administration awarded UMD a nearly $40 million grant in 2023 that will fund 35 electric buses, bus charging stations and training for drivers, according to the Office of the President.
Electric buses offer a quieter riding experience and allow bus drivers to brake and accelerate with more ease compared to diesel buses.
The Department of Transportation Services said the electric buses are powered by onboard batteries that supply and store electricity to an electric motor. They also feature regenerative braking, enabling the bus to restore energy during deceleration.
Despite driving conditions, DOTS predicts each bus can operate on a full charge for 250 miles, and estimates it can take about four to six hours to recharge.
“Electric buses typically have a lifespan of about 12 years, which is comparable to traditional diesel buses,” DOTS wrote in a statement.
Bus operators will face significant changes in the shift from diesel buses to electric buses. They are expected to pay more attention to battery range and when to charge the buses.
UMD students are happy about the incoming electric buses.
“I’m always for reducing carbon emissions and just doing something better for the environment,” said Jordan Bull, a freshman communications major on a public relations track. “Recently, gas prices have spiked, so it’s honestly amazing to see buses go electric.”
Freshman Kelyn Diaz Gutierrez, who’s enrolled in letters and sciences, supports the use of electric vehicles. She said she takes her personal part in conserving energy by taking public transportation instead of driving a car.
“I don’t regularly take the shuttle bus, but I feel like I’d consider using it more now that they’re electric,” she said.
Lamont Clark, a freshman environmental science and technology major specializing in ecological technology design, acknowledges how progressive it is to introduce electric buses, but still has doubts about the emissions still being produced.
Clark says that electric vehicles do not release direct carbon emissions, but we still have to consider how electricity is produced.
“Something is fueling that electricity. Unless that electricity is being confirmed powered by green systems, then it’s really not too much an alternative to the diesel,” they said. “So to me, it’s kind of inconsequential almost.”
Clark has a unique tie to environmentalism. They participate in the environmental justice club, which advocates for policy and lobbying for sustainable energy and living.
DOTS expects the electric buses will be fully integrated into the Shuttle-UM fleet by fall 2027, calculating a reduction of diesel fuel by more than 130,000 gallons annually. This would mark 60% of UMD’s transit bus fleet as hybrid or fully electric.
Featured Image: Two Shuttle-UM buses driving outside of the Regents Dr. Garage. Photo by Kendrick Brown.