1. solano county Transit our experience with battery electric buses
CalACT 2019 Spring Conference
Presented By: Kristina Botsford,
Finance & Administration Manager

2. Who is SolTrans
Serve Vallejo and Benicia in Solano County (Northern Bay Area)
1.4 million rides provided annually
Local & Commuter Fixed Route, ADA Paratransit, GP Dial-A-Ride
Contract services to National Express Transit (NEXT)
Drivers, Maintenance, Customer Service
Fleet:
21 Gilligs – Diesel/Hybrid – midlife
16 MCI’s – Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) – all new last 2 years
2 BYD Battery Electric – March 2017
12 Cutaway Paratransit Vehicles – 2 to 8 years old
3 Low-floor Cutaway Vehicles – New

3. convert to cleaner technology
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Buses: Converted 100% Commuter Fleet January 2019
Zero Emission Buses: Have 2 and 2 more on order
CNG Fueling Facility:
Completed February 2018

4. ROADMAP TO ZERO EMISSIONS
IN FEBRUARY 2016, OUR BOARD ADOPTED A ROADMAP TO ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2040
Convert Commuter fleet from Diesel to CNG - COMPLETE
Procure two electric buses to replace diesel bus - COMPLETE
Procure two additional electric buses to replace last diesel bus – DELIVERY FALL 2019
Build infrastructure needed to support all electric fleet – IN PLANNING STAGE
Begin replacing Hybrids with 100% Battery Electric in 2023

5. Key Learnings Determining which routes could use the electric buses
Operating & Maintenance facility maxed out on electric power
after installing 2 electric chargers – need to address before adding more chargers
Sub-meter needed to determine amount of kwh used in bus charging
Maintenance of electric buses
Responsiveness of a rapidly growing manufacturer

6. Next steps
Meetings with PG&E Fleet Ready program to complete electrical design specs for charger infrastructure
Determine power necessary to charge 100% all electric fleet
Start design process for a phased depot charging infrastructure
Determine energy consumption by route & possible in-route charging
Investigate design and cost to add solar panels