MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee County Department of Transportation presented a report Wednesday morning, showing a plan to transition to battery electric buses to save the county $27 million and reduce harmful emissions.
The report recommends that nine electric buses be used daily on the Bus Rapid Transit route, a hybrid bus route. The route would begin service in 2021, with six additional buses available for existing Milwaukee County Transit System routes. According to our partners at the Milwaukee Business Journal , the BRT line is expected to cost $53.5 million to build.
The conversion would save $1.7 annually between 2025 and 2040, if the county invests $10 million per year in the process, according to the report.
An electric fleet pilot program would cost $15.2 million for 15 electric buses and two chargers.
The report also found that electrification of the MCTS fleet would reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter, leading to better air quality and a reduction in the negative health effects associated with diesel exhaust.
Current diesel buses cost around $500,000 each, but having the electric ones will drastically cut expenses tied to gas.
The report was presented to the County Board's Committee on Transportation, Public Works and Transit. The full meeting agenda can be accessed online.
