The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York City has confirmed the acquisition of 265 zero-emission solo buses as part of its ongoing efforts to transition to a fully electric fleet by 2040. While the supplier’s name was not disclosed in the announcement, the vehicles are expected to come from New Flyer, which has been a key partner in the MTA’s electric bus expansion.
The new order builds on an earlier framework agreement signed in early 2024 between MTA and New Flyer for up to 1,420 electric buses to be delivered by 2029. The initial batch of 60 buses was delivered in May 2024, and another 205 buses are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2025. The latest order will bring 265 additional buses into service starting in 2027, operating across six depots citywide.
The initiative aligns with the MTA’s goal to improve air quality, particularly in areas like Southeast Queens. The Jamaica Bus Depot in Queens is set to be electrified by fall 2027 to accommodate the expanding fleet, with buses primarily charged via inverted pantograph systems. Other depots, including those in Gun Hill and Queens Village, are also being upgraded, with 205 new pantograph charging systems currently under installation.
The project is receiving significant funding through state and federal programs, including nearly $20 million from New York’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocation and $70 million from the Federal Transit Administration.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber emphasized the environmental benefits of the transition, stating, “Transit is what makes New York the greenest City and the greenest region of the country. These new buses, along with all the infrastructure upgrades to bus depots across the five boroughs, mean New Yorkers all over will soon be breathing cleaner air.”
The electrification effort also involves global expertise. German software company CarMedialab is providing its cloud-based charging management solution, MOBILEcharge, to oversee the installation and operation of 755 charging points across four depots by September 2024. In partnership with the New York Power Authority and Guth DeConzo Construction Management, CarMedialab will oversee the phased installation of 255 charging points initially, with an additional 500 to follow.
