Summary - Clean Buses US 2025

US transit agencies are moving from pilots to scale on fleet decarbonization. In 2025 alone, agencies announced large multi-year procurements including battery-electric and hybrid bus orders at major systems, hydrogen fuel-cell trials across multiple states, and dedicated investments in depot readiness—from all-electric operating bases to yard-automation demos that reduce costs and increase capacity. At the same time, agencies continue to bridge with hybrids and CNG to maintain reliability while supply chains, grid interconnections, and infrastructure funding catch up.

Federal and state funding remains substantial (Low/No Emission and Buses & Bus Facilities, state air-quality programs, and targeted corridor grants), but priorities and scoring criteria are evolving—raising the bar on measurable accessibility, equity, and operating outcomes. Manufacturers are retooling, restarts are underway at some plants, and delivery timelines are improving but still variable. Agencies now face a pragmatic, system-wide challenge: planning multi-fuel fleets, securing power and hydrogen supply, upgrading depots and workforce skills, and proving total cost of ownership (TCO) under real-world duty cycles, weather, and terrain.

Against this backdrop, Global Mass Transit is organizing its fifth conference on ‘Clean Buses - US’, on November 19-20, 2025 at the Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel, San Francisco.

The conference will bring together policymakers, transit agencies, state transport departments, local government officials, OEMs, suppliers of bus components, AI solution providers, energy providers, charging solution suppliers and battery manufacturers, hydrogen-fueling infrastructure providers, funding agencies, consultants, researchers, and academicians.

The mission of the conference is to discuss the plans of state government departments and transit agencies to deploy clean fuel buses (electric, hydrogen), the experience so far, case studies, best practices in installation of electric charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, innovative financing mechanisms, lessons learned in workforce training and upskilling, and strategies to leverage AI in bus transit. The conference will also highlight new opportunities and showcase technological innovations.

The conference aims to accelerate a safe, reliable, and financially sound transition to zero- and near-zero-emission bus fleets in the United States by discussing:

Agency case studies with hard performance data (range, duty cycles, uptime, energy/fuel costs, and TCO)
Opportunities and outlook for hybrid buses/ZEBs
Roadmaps for depot electrification and hydrogen readiness (power/hydrogen supply, interconnection, charging/fueling strategy, resiliency, and safety)
Opportunities for RNG buses leveraging current CNG infrastructure as agencies move toward zero emissions.
De-risking of procurement & delivery, templates for specs, warranties, performance KPIs, and multi-year contracting that protect agencies while supporting manufacturers
Training pathways for operators, technicians, and first responders; change-management for mixed fleets
Ways to unlock capital with practical guidance on stacking federal/state funds with utility programs, innovative finance, and lifecycle maintenance strategies
Standardized metrics for emissions reduction, reliability, accessibility, and rider experience—so boards, funders, and the public see real outcomes
Meeting energy demand for electric buses, integration of renewable energy sources into the grid, zero tailpipe
Fleet monitoring solutions, battery monitoring solutions
AI-enabled platforms for scheduling, operating, monitoring hybrid buses/ ZEBs
Real-time data analytics to assess the performance of hybrid buses/ZEBs
Battery charging and management services for bus operators
IoT-enabled buses to improve safety, efficiency, and passenger experience
Autonomous zero emission buses/shuttles, wireless charging at depots