LTD Pulls Back From Electric Buses, Chooses Renewable Diesel

Lane Transit District confirmed this week that it will substantially shrink its electric bus fleet and invest in buses running on 99 percent renewable diesel after years of recurring mechanical problems and limited availability of electric vehicles for daily service. The move marks a reversal from LTD leaders past position that electric buses would deliver zero tailpipe emissions and help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions within 15 years.

The 30 buses purchased from New Flyer of America in 2019 represented roughly a quarter of LTDs fleet and cost about 30 million dollars. Federal Transit Administration funding covered 80 percent of that sum, with the remaining 20 percent paid from LTDs general fund. Under the original grant terms each bus was expected to be used for 500,000 miles or LTD risk repaying part of the grant. LTD officials said they are seeking Federal Transit Administration approval for a transfer of responsibility if the 19 buses are sold or moved to another agency.

Operational problems emerged shortly after deployment. Battery cells frequently failed, reducing range and causing buses to shut down. Repairs required time consuming diagnostics and often the involvement of manufacturer engineers, producing lengthy downtimes. Other transit agencies using New Flyer vehicles reported similar issues, and the manufacturer issued a recall in September that affected 19 of LTDs buses. As of November 17 only six of the 30 buses were available for riders.

At a public meeting on November 12 LTD leadership outlined plans to retain 11 of the electric buses while the remaining 19 could be shipped to Los Angeles in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics if arrangements and federal approvals are finalized. LTD framed the decision as pragmatic, emphasizing that reliability and consistent service are central to meeting both ridership needs and longer term climate goals. Renewable diesel is produced from plant or animal sources and produces lower tailpipe emissions than traditional petroleum diesel, but it is not a zero tailpipe emissions solution.

The change raises several local policy and fiscal questions. Grant conditions tied to vehicle mileage create potential financial risk if the Federal Transit Administration does not approve a transfer of obligations. The episode also highlights procurement and oversight issues for public agencies adopting new vehicle technologies at scale. For riders the immediate effect should be more reliable service as LTD moves away from vehicles that have spent large amounts of time in repair, but it may slow the districts progress toward zero tailpipe emissions.

Local observers said initial optimism about electric buses was shaped by strong marketing and limited large scale operational experience at the time of purchase. Transit advocates and officials will be watching whether future electric bus deployments overcome current reliability challenges. Meanwhile LTD faces decisions about replacement schedules, maintenance capacity, and how to reconcile near term service needs with long term climate commitments.