Oxygen, Hydrogen Power Proposed For Riverside County Public Buses

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA —The Riverside Transit Agency's fleet of approximately 225 buses provide public transportation across much of Riverside County. The agency has now unveiled a plan to transition the entire fleet to a cleaner, greener technology.

Under the proposal, which is being finalized and will be reviewed by the agency's Board of Directors next month, RTA’s 40-foot compressed natural gas (CNG) buses would be phased out and replaced by hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses, according to the agency.

Smaller buses and trolleys, currently powered by CNG and unleaded gas, would also go zero emission when the federally approved technology is available.

Unlike buses that run on fossil fuels, a hydrogen fuel-cell electric bus is powered by oxygen and hydrogen. A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water. Similar to batteries, the fuel cells convert the energy produced by a chemical reaction into usable electric power, the agency explained.

"The move to hydrogen fuel-cell technology is estimated to begin in phases in 2026, and funding options for both the vehicles and the fueling stations are currently being explored," according to the RTA.

The California Air Resources Board has set a goal that requires all large public transit agencies to transition to a zero-emission fleet by 2040.

Other zero-emission options, such as battery-electric buses, were eliminated after a study determined that range limitations would hinder RTA’s ability to provide service to the over 2,500 square miles of western Riverside County, according to the agency.

RTA’s rollout plan is intended to be a living document that can be changed over time as technology evolves, according to the agency. If ratified by the Board of Directors next month, the plan would be forwarded to CARB for final approval.