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Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Charging Infrastructure

The City of Santa Monica is switching its fleet of 195 buses to be 100% zero-emission by 2030¡ª10 years ahead of California¡¯s statewide mandate deadline. We are assisting Big Blue Bus, the operator, to devise an electric vehicle charging strategy to achieve this.

We started with an in-depth review of route modeling to determine if battery electric buses or hydrogen fuel cell electric buses are the best fit for the community. We conducted a block-by-block analysis to understand power requirements throughout the 58-square-mile service area.

The Big Blue Bus fleet composition will evolve over time with both natural gas-powered buses and electric buses in service simultaneously. This phased approach provides flexibility for the transit agency as it reduces its environmental footprint. The infrastructure plan will accommodate the shifting fleet composition and the ultimate decommissioning and removal of the existing fueling system.

For over 25 years, we have partnered with Big Blue Bus on facility improvements to their Santa Monica campus. This charging infrastructure project is the latest in a long string of largescale collaborative projects aimed at sustainably improving public transit options for Los Angeles County residents.