The County of Maui has placed its first battery-electric buses into regular passenger service, marking a milestone in the island’s efforts to modernise public transport and reduce emissions, local authorities said on Monday.
The County of Maui Department of Transportation said four electric buses have begun operating on two core routes in the Maui Bus network, the Kahului Loop #5 and the Upcountry Islander #40. The vehicles represent the first use of battery-electric buses in daily transit service on Maui, with further routes expected to follow as operations expand.
“These zero-emission buses represent a major milepost in the County of Maui’s efforts to reduce local air pollution and modernize the Maui Bus fleet with quieter, cleaner technology,” said Marc Takamori, County Transportation Director. “Our new buses help drive a more sustainable future for transportation not just on Maui, but across the entire state of Hawai‘i.”
The introduction follows an announcement made by the State of Hawaii last summer outlining plans to deploy 12 battery-electric buses across Kaua‘i, Maui and Hawaii Island. The new vehicles will replace an equal number of ageing diesel buses as part of a broader fleet renewal programme.
The buses were manufactured by Gillig and delivered through a partnership with the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Funding for the project was provided through a multi-agency package led by the Federal Transit Administration, which contributed $11.2 million in grant funding toward the total project cost of $16.6 million. Additional funding came from the Hawaii State Energy Office, with the remaining costs covered by the counties.
The Maui Department of Transportation said drivers underwent a familiarisation period before the buses entered service to ensure operational readiness and safety.
The deployment forms part of Hawaii’s wider transport decarbonisation strategy. In 2021, the state government adopted rules requiring all passenger vehicles in its public fleet to transition to electric by 2030, with light commercial vehicles to follow by 2035.
Officials said the introduction of battery-electric buses is expected to reduce local air pollution, lower operating noise and support the state’s long-term climate and energy goals.
