Commercial, Distributed Energy Resources, GHG Emissions  -  July 16, 2024

University of Iowa Purchases Battery-Electric Buses

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the University of Iowa (UI) a $16.4 million grant for improvements to the Cambus system, including the purchase of six new battery-electric buses that will help the university reach its sustainability goals.

Cambus is a free campus bus service founded in 1972 by UI students with six leased buses. The bus service is still largely student-run and operates with 37 buses on fixed-route, on-demand and paratransit services. 

“This historic grant is an incredible step forward for Cambus,” said Debby Zumbach, associate vice president and director of Parking and Transportation, in a statement. “Sustainability is important to us and to the university, and we are excited to be able to meet our goals by adding these six buses to our fleet.” 

During the FTA’s annual grant cycle, over $9 billion in funding was requested and nearly $1.5 billion was awarded to 117 projects. The UI was one of 62 recipients of the “low or no emissions” grant, which goes toward zero-emission and low-emission transit buses and the facilities that support them. 

The six new battery-electric buses will replace six of the oldest diesel Cambus buses still operating. The new vehicles are expected to arrive in 2026, and Cambus will work with the Center for Transportation and the Environment to deploy them and collect data to optimize their performance. 

The Cambus Maintenance Facility has low ceilings and other structural barriers that do not allow for the ability to house electric buses, which are taller than current buses and require new infrastructure to power them. 

Construction on a new facility is expected to start in summer 2025 and last one year and will be funded by the grant. The project will add about 20,000 square feet adjacent to the north side of the current Cambus facility on Madison Street. 

The updated space will house new Cambus maintenance bays, maintenance office and support spaces, and more training spaces. In addition, it will enable Cambus to accommodate future developments.

Read These Related Articles:

• University of Iowa receives clean energy investment
• University of Iowa rolls out 50-year energy improvement project

Share this valuable information with your colleagues using the buttons below: