Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) has a goal to convert its bus fleet to all electric by 2030 but one of its board members suggests moving the goal to 2040.
Metro initially set a goal to be 100% electric but moved the goal to 2030 and are now seeking 2035 as a target date.
According to Politico, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. finds the goal unrealistic and wants the conversion to coincide with the California Air Resources Board’s 2040 deadline under its Innovative Clean Transit rule.
“Aren’t we cutting our own throats by having this artificial rush to implement a technology that’s going to evolve between here and 2040?” he asked.
Antelope Valley Transit Authority — home to a BYD Motors manufacturing plant, based in Lancaster — became the first agency in the country to reach 100 percent electric with its 87-bus fleet in 2022.
Although Inglewood doesn’t have its own proprietary transit service, BYD became a title sponsor of the Inglewood Airport Area Chamber of Commerce while Metro, who does serve Inglewood, is noticeably missing as a member.
LA Metro staff are citing electric bus manufacturers going out of business, difficulties connecting charging stations to the grid, range issues and costs.
“Being converted by 2030 is too soon,” LA Metro deputy COO Matthew Dake told the agency’s Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience Committee, where staff presented an updated timeline. “The technology is not mature enough.”
