December 10, 2024

Electrification of Public Transit: How Utilities Can Support the Future of Public Transportation

5 Min. Read

Public transit is already experiencing a revolutionary shift, with electrification paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Across the United States, buses, light rail solutions, rideshare vehicles, and other mobility solutions options are becoming increasingly powered by electricity, reshaping how communities stay connected.

This transition will play a key role in keeping communities connected but comes with significant challenges due to meeting the energy demands and infrastructure requirements of electric public transit systems.

So, how are utilities stepping up to drive this transformation? In this article we’ll explore this growing trend and how utilities across the country can support the future of public transportation.

The Role of Public Transit: A Shift Toward Mobility as a Service

By providing a convenient and affordable way to keep people connected to jobs, healthcare, local businesses, and each other, public transit has always been a key part of city life.

Electrification isn’t the only major transformation taking place in the public transit landscape. Mobility is increasingly being seen as a service, driven in part by the rapid rise of ride-sharing apps. Growing at an impressive annual rate of 30%, these apps are revolutionizing the way people think about transportation, setting new standards for speed, convenience, and personalization.

Public transit agencies are also embracing mobility as a service, providing solutions such as autonomous vehicles, bike rentals, and even car rentals.

Data is also a crucial factor transforming public transit. Real-time data about usage and traffic can power dynamic pricing and make information about ETAs more accurate. At the planning level, data can help public transit agencies figure out how to improve and create the most efficient routes.

Better insights into public transit usage combined with the mobility-as-a-service model has led to the rise of mobility hubs. These hubs are centralized locations where users can seamlessly transition between different modes of transportation, such as buses, trains, bikes, or rideshare services. Functioning as more than just transit points, mobility hubs also serve of centers of activity that can shape the local economy and electrify neighborhoods.

As a result, these mobility hubs make great locations for charging electric vehicles, integrating electrification into a modern approach to urban design.

How Electrification is Supporting the Public Transit of the Future

Switching to public transit for a 20-mile commute can cut the average person’s CO2 emissions by 20 pounds per day. Electrifying public transit takes this impact even further, significantly reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality.

With 39% of Americans living in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution, the shift to electric public transit is becoming an essential step toward cleaner, healthier communities.

So what does it actually mean to electrify public transit? By replacing fuel-powered options with electric ones, such as electric buses, electric trains, and light-rail solutions, entire communities can benefit from the healthier environment created by a reduction of pollution.

Electric vehicles (EVs), electric vans, and e-bikes are also an essential part of the electrification of public transit and can signal a shift in the public perception toward electrification.

For municipalities, going electric is much more affordable than paying for fuel, resulting in cheaper public transit. The savings can be used to further develop public transit as well as offer new routes, especially in underserved areas.

Electrification also makes micromobility solutions more accessible, such as e-bikes and e-scooters. These solutions come with a range of benefits:

• For short routes, they are a convenient and practical alternative to cars, perfect for getting around quickly and efficiently.
• They offer freedom from fixed routes by removing the limitations of traditional public transit routes.
• E-bikes and e-scooters promote physical activity and can contribute to a healthier lifestyle.
• Micromobility supports local businesses by making it easy to stop and explore nearby shops and cafes on the way!

The Role of Utilities in the Electrification of Public Transit

Increased electrification drives higher electricity demand, making reliable charging infrastructure essential.

As a result, it is crucial utilities understand that expanding power production capacity should be a priority to accommodate increased consumption. Incorporating local battery storage can also increase grid stability and put less pressure on transmission lines when usage increases. Additionally, modernizing the power transmission infrastructure is key to support the ever-changing demands of electrification.

Partnerships between utilities and public transit agencies are essential to the success to electrification efforts. Electric utilities must stay informed about current and future transit electrification plans to effectively anticipate and meet the changing energy demands.

Utility partnerships can also lead to many benefits, including:

• Developing preferred pricing structures for public transit electrification.
• Financing the construction of mobility hubs equipped with EV charging infrastructure.
• Prioritizing reliable electric service to support mobility hubs.
• Coordinating charging schedules that reduce pressure on the grid during peak times.
• Utilizing bidirectional EV charging to transform electric buses and other vehicles into sources of power when not in use.
• Designing mobility hubs that are adaptable and capable of supporting future electrification as new electric transit options become available.

Together, these partnerships pave the way for a seamless transition to an electrified public transit system.

Electrify Your Community with Qmerit

Public transit agencies rely on utility support to manage their transition to electric systems effectively. By building these partnerships, utilities can better serve their communities and become key drivers of transformative change.

However, partnerships should be extended beyond public transit agencies. A mix of public and private organizations working together is essential to create the infrastructure and electrification solutions needed for widespread adoption.

If you’re ready to electrify your community, partnering with Qmerit is an excellent first step toward making that vision a reality.

Rated #1 in customer satisfaction, Qmerit’s experienced network of certified electricians has installed more than 450,000 EV charging stations in homes and businesses across the U.S. and Canada.

Through partnerships with utilities, Qmerit makes it easy for your customers to go electric. Combining our EV installation services with your electrification incentive programs can go a long way in supporting the electrification of your community.

Contact Qmerit to learn more about utility partnerships.