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Electric Buses

Electric Buses

Georgia State Atlanta campus in the fall

Electric Buses

An all-electric bus fleet: A Closer Look

Georgia State University is leading the charge as the first university in the Southeast and one of the first in the country to electrify its entire bus fleet. This achievement, made possible by a $22.3 million award from the FTA’s FY23 Low- and No-Emission program, signifies our commitment to sustainability through action, not just words.

Watch Jennifer Wilson, Manager of the Office of Sustainable Initiatives, talk about the project.

Learn what this incredible project means to us and you:

  • A Trailblazer in Sustainability

    The project puts us at the forefront of sustainable transportation and next-generation bus technology.

    Environmental Impact:

    • Switching to electric buses means we’ll produce 541 metric tons less CO2 emissions each year, saving $56,000 in social costs associated with carbon emissions.
    • No more diesel buses mean cleaner air; we’ll release 1625 grams less PM2.5 particles into the air each year, improving our air quality.
    • Our electric buses will save a lot of energy, equal to taking 89 average American cars off the road every year

  • Enhancing Fiscal Resources for Educational Advancement

    Operational Impact:

    •  We will save money by owning and maintaining our electric buses, reducing annual diesel costs by $200,000.
    • By storing our buses on campus, we will save $120,000 a year in land leasing costs and $36,000 a year in utility costs.

    Every dollar we save can go back into our core mission of educating students.

  • Fair Transportation for All

    Mobility is a right, not a privilege.  Our buses will serve four disadvantaged areas identified by the Department of Transportation. Approximately 80% of our students are from underrepresented groups, are the first in their families to go to college, or qualify for Pell Grants, so we want to make sure they have a fair shot at transportation.

  • Easing Traffic and Connecting Communities

    Our new electric Panther Express buses are big and efficient, and they’ll help reduce traffic on and off campus. They’ll also connect us to the Summerhill community, where our CenterParc Stadium is.

    Why It’s Good for You:

    • The Summerhill Bus Rapid Transit system will make travel faster and more efficient, so you’ll spend less time commuting and more time where you want to be.
Sneak-peek into our Project Timeline

Fall 2023

├── August: Grant approval by the Federal Transit Agency (FTA)

├── September: Commencement of project planning, feasibility studies, and system architecture design

├── October: Progression through planning phases, including internal evaluations and feasibility assessments

├── November: Execution of contractual agreements with collaborators and strategic partners, culminating in formal partnerships.

└── December: Completion of comprehensive technical specifications for Electric buses and charging infrastructure

Spring 2024

└── Access to the FTA Grant’s budgetary allocation is secured.

└── Initiation of the procurement process for Electric buses and charging systems.

Summer 2024

└── Implementation of workforce development initiatives, encompassing specialized training programs and skill enhancement tailored for project-specific requirements.

Fall 2024

└── Retrofitting of the Central Bus Facility for Electric Vehicle (EV) readiness, including meticulous planning for electric utility provisions

Spring 2025

├── Receipt of Electric buses from manufacturing partners

└── Rigorous testing and verification of technical interfaces and connections

Summer 2025

└── Operationalization of Electric buses, marking the project’s deployment completion and the initiation of sustainable transportation services

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