Zero-Emission Transit Bus Requirement

By 2040, all public transit agencies must transition to 100% zero-emission bus fleets. Zero-emission bus technologies include battery-electric or fuel cell electric. Transit agencies must purchase or operate a minimum number of zero-emission buses according to the following schedules:

Large Transit Agency Small Transit Agency
January 1, 2023 25% of the total number of new bus purchases in each calendar year must be zero-emission buses No requirement
January 1, 2026 50% of the total number of new bus purchases in each calendar year must be zero-emission buses 25% of the total number of new bus purchases in each calendar year must be zero-emission buses
January 1, 2029 All new bus purchases must be zero-emission buses All new bus purchases must be zero-emission buses

Each transit agency will submit a plan demonstrating how it will purchase clean buses, develop infrastructure, train personnel, and other required details. Large transit agencies must submit a plan in 2020 and small agencies must submit a plan in 2023. Additional rules and requirements apply.

For more information, including definitions of large and small transit agencies and additional terms and conditions, see the California Air Resources Board’s Innovative Clean Transit website.

(Reference California Code of Regulations Title 13, Section 2023.1)

Jurisdiction: California

Type: Laws and Regulations

Enacted: Dec 14, 2018

Technologies: EVs, Hydrogen Fuel Cells

See all California Laws and Incentives.