King County Metro Battery Bus Feasibility Study

King County Seattle electric transit bus

Sam Schwartz developed a long-term feasibility study for King County Metro to transition their fleet to all zero-emission battery buses. King County has an existing fleet of catenary trolley buses which were included in the analysis for comparison purposes. The feasibility study included an assessment of existing and anticipated battery bus technology, such as charging times, expected miles per charge, types of charging infrastructure, impacts to bus base configuration and operation, and expectations for battery life and battery recycling/re-use options. Sam Schwartz also conducted a service analysis to ascertain the percentage of existing bus runs that could be accommodated by existing fast charge and slow charge technologies, as well as the percentage that could be accommodated with anticipated improvements in technology.

In addition, Sam Schwartz conducted a full equity analysis to create a framework for distributing the benefits equitably to populations most vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality and oversaw the development of a life cycle cost analysis and evaluation of emissions and noise reductions by our partner firm on the project. At the conclusion of the project, King County Metro announced the strategic purchase of 120 zero-emission battery buses, as part of a longer-term commitment to transition fully to all battery electric buses.

Services / Electrification