HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.IC EV Transition Plan 2023 Update1
Iowa City Transit
Fleet Electrification Transition Plan
Produced by Iowa City Climate Action Office (CAO), Metropolitan Planning
Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC) and Iowa City Transit
April 2023
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Contents
List of Figures and Tables ............................................................................................................................ 2
Glossary of Terms......................................................................................................................................... 3
Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Map of Iowa City Transit Facilities and Routes .......................................................................................... 5
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 6
Requirement 1: Fleet Management ............................................................................................................ 7
Requirement 2: Availability of Current and Future Resources .................................................................. 8
Requirement 3: Policy and Legislation ........................................................................................................ 9
Requirement 4: Existing and Future Facilities ............................................................................................ 9
Requirement 5: Partnership of ICT & MidAmerican ................................................................................. 10
Requirement 6: Workforce Skill Gaps and Training Needs ...................................................................... 10
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Appendix .................................................................................................................................................... 11
List of Figures and Tables
Figure 1: Map of Iowa City Transit Facilities and Routes ............................................................................ 9
Table 1: Iowa City Transit Revenue Vehicle Inventory .............................................................................. 12
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Glossary of Terms
AC: Alternating current
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
AFDC: Alternative Fuels Data Center
APTA: American Public Transportation Association
BEB: Battery electric bus, a bus powered by an onboard battery that drives an electric motor
CO2e: Carbon Dioxide equivalent, emissions with the same global warming potential as an equivalent
mass of carbon dioxide
DC: Direct current
DCFC: Direct current fast charging
Depot charging: the practice of charging a battery electric bus at the transit facility, typically
overnight and with plug-in or inductive charging
DOT: Department of Transportation
EVSE: Electric vehicle supply equipment, commonly referred to as a charging station
FTA: Federal Transit Administration
GHG: Greenhouse gas
HVAC: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
ICE: Internal combustion engine
kWh: kilowatt hour
MPO: Metropolitan Planning Organization
MPGe: miles per gallon equivalent
NEC: National Electric Code
NOx: Nitrogen Oxide, a product of fossil fuel combustion linked to detrimental health effects and the
formation of acid rain and smog
On-route charging: the practice of charging a battery electric bus at the endpoint of a route or
layover location, typically with pantograph or inductive charging
PM: Particulate Matter, a product of fossil fuel combustion linked to harmful health effects
State of Charge: the percent of a battery’s capacity that remains charged with useable energy
Vehicle block: a work assignment for a single bus including all revenue trips, recovery time, and non-
revenue travel to and from the facility
ZEV: zero-emission vehicle
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Acknowledgements
City Council
Bruce Teague, Mayor
Megan Alter, Mayor Pro-Tem
Laura Bergus
Shawn Harmsen
Pauline Taylor
John Thomas
Janice Weiner
City Staff
Geoff Fruin, City Manager
Redmond Jones II, Deputy City Manager
Rachel Kilburg, Assistant City Manager
Darian Nagle-Gamm, Director, Transportation Services, City of Iowa City
Kent Ralston, Executive Director, Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County
Sarah Gardner, Climate Action Coordinator, City of Iowa City
Frank Waisath, Transportation Planner, Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County
Hannah Neel, Transportation Planner, Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County
Daniel Bissell, Climate Action Analyst, City of Iowa City
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Map of Iowa City Transit Facilities and Routes
Figure 1: Map of Iowa City Transit Facilities and Routes.
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Introduction
Iowa City Transit operates a fixed-route transit system serving Iowa City, IA and University Heights, IA
providing direct service to the University of Iowa. The City of Iowa City adopted a Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan in 2018 with subsequent Climate Crisis resolution in 2019 and Accelerating Iowa City’s
Climate Actions report in 2020. The 2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory indicated that
transportation was 22% of community-wide emissions. The 2015 Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory
indicated that liquid transportation fuel accounted for 9.5% of emissions from municipal operations.
Of the emissions from liquid fuel, 66.2% of emissions were from diesel fuel. The stated greenhouse gas
(GHG) emission reduction goals in the Accelerated Climate Action Report are to reduce citywide GHG
emissions by 45% of 2010 emission levels by 2030, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Other
goals of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan include replacing 55% of vehicle trips with sustainable
transportation options including public transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and alternative fuel vehicles by
2050 and converting at least 50% of the municipal fleet to cleaner-fuel vehicles. Iowa City Transit
currently operates 22 conventional diesel heavy-duty 40’ buses and 4 battery electric buses.
Iowa City’s battery electric buses, launched in January 2022, have a theoretical maximum range of 329
miles under ideal conditions. Currently, Iowa City Transit only uses depot charging, where buses are
physically plugged in overnight. The expense of on-route charging infrastructure coupled with limited
layover time precludes the use of on-route charging at this time. High-power electric vehicle supply
equipment (EVSE) is not immune to current economy-wide supply chain issues. Iowa City Transit is
currently using temporary EVSE borrowed from Proterra and can only charge two vehicles
simultaneously. Once a permanent charging solution is installed, Iowa City Transit will be able to
charge up to six buses simultaneously overnight, in about 3-4 hours.
To expand the zero-emissions fleet to include more battery electric buses, more charging
infrastructure would be required. To add hydrogen fuel cell buses to the fleet, additional facility
updates are necessary including improved ventilation, hydrogen detection alarms, and upgrades to
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and electrical systems. Another consideration to
zero-emissions vehicle adoption and route choice is the higher profile of these alternative fuel vehicles.
Battery electric buses position batteries on the roof and in the floor of the vehicle, while hydrogen fuel
cell buses place hydrogen tanks on the roof. This significantly increases the clearance height of these
buses. The increased clearance height creates challenges with storage and maintenance in the aging
transit facility where garage door height and breakover angle is a concern. The clearance height also
limits which routes electric buses can be placed on, due to a low-clearance railroad bridge in a high-
transit use corridor near the University of Iowa campus.
Iowa City Transit intends to replace conventional diesel transit buses with zero-emissions vehicles as
the conventional diesel vehicles age out of the fleet. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
stipulates the life cycle of a heavy-duty transit (conventional diesel) bus to be 12 years, therefore full
transition will not be an option until 2030 unless exceptions to the “useful” life definition are allowed.
The age and condition of the current transit facility make expansion of the zero-emissions fleet
difficult. The current transit facility is almost 40 years old, at the end of its useful life, and is inadequate
for operations as they exist today. Site specific environmental issues (soil subsidence and methane off-
gassing) and maintenance issues related to the age and condition of the facility preclude facility
expansion or new construction at the current location.
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The way forward is to first build a new transit facility once funding is available and expand the zero
emissions buses fleet. A transit facility purpose-built for zero-emissions vehicles including both battery
electric buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses would prevent stranded assets, would ensure the safety of
operations, and would present an opportunity for workforce development as more space would be
available for training maintenance personnel and bus operators in the use and maintenance of zero-
emissions vehicles.
The costs of completely converting the fleet to battery electric buses would be significant – estimated
at least $28 million for vehicles alone. More charging infrastructure would be needed. However, the
environmental benefits of transitioning away from conventional diesel buses is clear. The EPA Motor
Vehicle Emission Simulator estimates that a heavy-duty diesel transit bus emits 229,167 lb. of COz
(carbon dioxide) annually. Carbon dioxide is the main driver of human-caused climate change. Climate
change is not the only issue addressed by zero-emissions vehicles. A diesel transit bus is estimated to
emit 107 lb. of NOx (nitrogen oxides) and 4 lb. of particulate matter (PM) annually. These emissions are
known to exacerbate and cause asthma, increase vulnerability to respiratory infections, and cause
chronic lung disease and cardiovascular problems. People of color, lower income, immigrant and/or
refugee status, and other marginalized communities bear a disproportionate impact of these
emissions. Zero-emissions vehicles, including both battery electric buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses,
have none of these greenhouse gas or health-impacting emissions.
With Iowa City’s utility partner, MidAmerican Energy, providing Iowa customers with an astounding
88% renewable energy (mostly wind), electrifying the transit fleet gets very close to giving Iowa City
residents a carbon-neutral transportation option. A new transit facility with rooftop solar can help
bridge that gap and offset grid electricity still supplied with fossil fuels.
Requirement 1: Fleet Management
Iowa City Transit currently operates a fleet of 27 heavy-duty 40' buses to provide transit service on 13
fixed routes and 13 light-duty mid-sized buses operated for on-demand paratransit service.
Iowa City’s Climate Action Plans indicate that existing diesel and gasoline buses in the fleet should be
replaced with battery-electric or zero-emission buses as funds allow, though existing diesel and
gasoline buses should be maintained and used to the end of their useful life to maximize the capital
investment. The useful life a heavy-duty diesel bus is approximately 12 years but can be operated
longer with regular maintenance.
In 2021, Iowa City Transit acquired four 40’ foot heavy-duty battery-electric buses, replacing four diesel
fuel buses that reached the end of their useful life. Iowa City Transit is actively seeking electric vehicle
options for our mid-sized paratransit vehicles. Potential for capital funding may be increasing with the
expanded allocation of funding with the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
(discussed in the next section). Iowa City has a clear objective to replace the diesel fleet with more
sustainable electric buses at the earliest available opportunity and will take advantage of any and all
grant opportunities that become available.
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Iowa City Transit Revenue Vehicle Inventory
Vehicle Type Fuel Type Vehicle Length Number of Vehicles
Light-Duty Mid-Sized Bus Diesel 27’ 4
Light-Duty Mid-Sized Bus Gasoline 27’ 12
Heavy-Duty Large Bus Diesel 40’ 23
Heavy-Duty Large Bus Battery-Electric 40’ 4
Total Vehicles 43
Table 1: Iowa City Transit Revenue Vehicle Inventory.
The City of Iowa City has a transit fleet replacement reserve fund to help ensure funds are set aside
for the future replacement of vehicles and facilities. Funds equal to 20% of the accumulated
depreciation of the City’s bus fleet and maintenance facility are maintained in this reserve to be used
as a match for State or Federal grants.
Requirement 2: Availability of Current and Future Resources
Budget review
The FY 2023 – 2026 Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Improvement Program will
reflect programming for the capital replacement of (12) buses at $18 million dollars and capital
replacement of the transit facility at $27.75 million dollars. The City sets aside funding each year into
an equipment reserves replacement fund and a transit facility reserves replacement fund to help
ensure local match is available for grant opportunities.
Funding opportunities:
There are multiple opportunities at the State and Federal level to obtain funding for capital transit
projects such as transit vehicle replacement.
State (Iowa) Funding Programs
-VW Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust – Public transit system operators are eligible
to apply for funding up to 50% of the cost of all-electric buses and charging equipment.
-Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Program – This program provides funding for transit
vehicle replacement to eligible transit operators in the State of Iowa.
-Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Program
-Transit Capital Programs
-Iowa Public Transit Bus Replacement Project
Federal Funding Programs
-The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs (IIJA) has increased capital funding for the Bus and
Bus Facilities program (Section 5339), including the Low or No Emission Grant. Funding can
be applied for annually and is awarded on a competitive basis.
-The Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Program (CMAQ) includes funds for vehicle
replacement projects and requires a 20% non-federal funding match.
-Urbanized Area Formula Grant Program (Section 5307)
-Bus and Bus Facilities Grants Program
-Low or No Emission Vehicles Grants Program
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-Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Grant Program
Requirement 3: Policy and Legislation
Currently, limited policy or legislation exists regarding low- or no-emission vehicle technologies,
however Iowa City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan has specific targets for a transition to more
sustainable technologies to reach net-zero by 2050. There are no explicit State or Federal
requirements for zero-emission vehicles at this time. Future iterations of the Fleet Transition Plan will
integrate any future policies or legislation as they are adopted.
Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Targets:
-By 2050, replace 55 percent of vehicle trips with sustainable transportation options, such as
public transportation, bicycle, pedestrian, or clean vehicles.
-Convert at least 50 percent of the municipal vehicle fleet to cleaner fuel vehicles.
-Increase community-wide adoption of electric and alternative fuel vehicles.
Requirement 4: Existing and Future Facilities
Iowa City Transit currently operates from a 40-year-old building with significant safety and
maintenance issues that is at the end of its useful life. Because of the strong community desire to
transition to electric buses, the facility was retrofitted to be able to charge a maximum of 6-8 battery
electric buses. This includes an upgraded transformer and dedicated electric service in addition to the
installation of the charging equipment.
Iowa City Transit is currently is using two temporary 120kW single-dispenser chargers to power our
four battery electric buses. The temporary chargers are on loan to us due to delays in the
manufacturing and delivery of our permanent chargers. In the summer of 2022, we will receive three
180 kW dual-dispenser chargers which can charge up to six buses simultaneously in 3-4 hours. Once
the final charging equipment is installed, we will be able to charge no more than four additional electric
buses (for a total of eight) at our existing transit facility.
Iowa City is actively pursuing grant funding for a replacement transit facility. The age and condition of
the existing building and the environmental conditions on the property preclude us from making any
further infrastructure investment at this location. When a new transit facility is constructed, the
charging equipment will be moved to the new location and supplemented with additional equipment
necessary to power an entire fleet. A new facility will be purpose-built with adequate indoor storage
for up to 40 battery electric vehicles, doorways and approach angles adequate for ingress/egress of
taller electric vehicles, battery backup in case of power outages, and the modern equipment necessary
to safely maintain the new fleet. The new building will be built to LEED Silver standards, including
passive solar to help charge the buses and facilities with renewable energy.
A full conversion to electric vehicle technology is not possible until a new facility is constructed. Iowa
City is actively pursuing grant opportunities to replace the existing facility and has a shovel-ready
location selected on an existing City-owned public works campus.
Requirement 5: Partnership of ICT & MidAmerican
MidAmerican Energy, the City’s electricity provider, delivered an astounding 88% renewable
energy mix (mostly wind) to Iowa City in 2021 and is positioned to provide 100% renewable energy by
the time a new transit facility is constructed in 2025. This means that in the very near future, our
buses will be powered with 100% renewable energy which is an incredible leap forward
for sustainable transportation. In partnership with MidAmerican Energy, Iowa City Transit is
positioned to become one of the most sustainable transit systems in the world. Not only is
MidAmerican Energy delivering sustainably-sourced energy to power our buses and our transit
facilities, but they also supported Iowa City Transit’s conversion to electric bus technology by
upgrading electrical service to our facility and providing $75,000 in funding over the next three
years to support transit service via a marketing partnership. The new electric buses are co-
branded with MidAmerican Energy and Iowa City’s Climate Action messaging highlighting the
synergies between the organization’s sustainability missions.
Requirement 6: Workforce Skill Gaps and Training Needs
Iowa City Transit employees including Administrators, Supervisors, Operators, Fleet
Mechanics and the Vehicle Maintenance teams have received preliminary workforce
training provided by the electric bus manufacturer to learn how to operate and maintain our new
electric fleet. Iowa City also master certified two Supervisors to train all new employees how to
safely operate the new electric buses. The initial training, provided by the bus manufacturer
Proterra, was performed in advance of the launch of electric bus operations in January
2022. Additional technical training for mechanics and for emergency service personnel was
provided by Proterra in the summer of 2022. Iowa City Transit's fleet maintenance team
continues to build on the technical training provided by the manufacturer and works
directly with Proterra to diagnose and troubleshoot issues. Working with a new bus
manufacturer has provided many new opportunities for collaboration and learning. Iowa City
will continue to leverage this strong relationship with our bus manufacturer to ensure staff
has the tools, training, and resources necessary to keep Iowa City moving.
Iowa City Transit will continually assess the current workforce skill gaps and develop a detailed
plan to address shortfalls with further advanced training. Partnerships with the local community
college and other providers for such training are being sought. Electric bus technology is
Iowa City Transit’s future; therefore we will provide all necessary tools, equipment, and
training to support this critical transition to more sustainable transit technologies. This will
ensure that we are able to retain and recruit employees into good paying jobs with a chance to
join the union and retain our tenured employees with expertise in electric bus operations or
maintenance.
Federal Transit Administration, Iowa Department of Transportation, and private agencies such
as MidAmerican Energy it is possible to plan for, manage, and share those costs.
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Conclusion
The City of Iowa City and Iowa City Transit are committed to becoming one of the most sustainable
transit systems in the world, reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause global climate change
and other air pollutants that impact human health locally. Transitioning the heavy-duty transit
bus fleet to zero-emissions vehicles and providing an emissions-free mass transit system are
necessary to reach net-zero by 2050. A complete transition to zero-emissions buses will
require careful planning and thoughtful partnerships. A new transit facility is necessary
achieve these goals, providing adequate space for storage and maintenance of zero-
emission buses, adequate charging capacity, and equipment and training for personnel. The
costs of completely transitioning to zero-emission vehicles will be significant, but with thoughtful
municipal financial strategies and partnerships with the U.S. Department of Transportation,
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