Legislative Strategy
ZEBRA's combined understanding of transit and real-world experiences enhances our ability to build relationships and find creative solutions. We have unified representation on important programs and policies while simultaneously remaining active within our individual agencies. Our legislative strategy recognizes that battery electric buses have dominated the market and fuel cell electric buses would benefit from a larger share of Federal funding. ZEBRA also supports funding beyond the vehicle itself, with facility and technology selections matched to service needs and long-term agency goals.
Policies and Programs Supported
- Protect expanded IRA and BIL funding at current levels for innovative zero-emission vehicle technology deployments, including programs that explicitly support short- and long-term infrastructure investments.
- Leverage collective advocacy to ensure private sector alignment with established industry standards for software, vehicles and infrastructure, enabling interoperability and compatibility across vehicle manufacturers, including charging and/or hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
- Share knowledge and coordinate with local utilities and fuel providers to emphasize the importance of the transit sector as a fuel offtake and advocate for stable and predictable supply at an affordable cost for electricity and hydrogen.
- Empower transit agencies to choose the propulsion system best suited to their operational needs, state policies, and individual transition timelines. Federal and state funding should provide awards across fuel types, emphasizing the inclusion of hydrogen and battery electric vehicles and infrastructure.
- Prioritize funding programs requiring fleet transition plans and offering technical assistance in order to better support early adopters in understanding the challenges and opportunities associated with deploying ZE buses.
- Support funding for workforce development programs that encourage partnerships and information sharing to ensure all agencies have resources to train transit front-line staff and entry-level candidates on zero-emission technologies and related infrastructure. Continue to emphasize the key employment capacity in the transit industry and across the supporting supply chain.
- Advocate for the continued development of a robust hydrogen production and distribution network across the US and Canada to drive down fuel costs for transit-agency end users.
- Serve as an industry convener and collective voice on behalf of the broader transit industry to state and federal government officials, highlighting industry successes and challenges to improve government understanding of the status of the ZE transition.
- Reduce reliance on foreign and imported fuels by expanding the advanced battery-electric and hydrogen technology landscape in the United States and Canada.