Clean Fleet

Fuel Cell Buses produce zero emissions, require less maintenance costs, operate quietly, and can run at extreme temperatures, especially when compared to battery-powered alternatives. They also excel on long routes and routes with frequent service. Specifically, they can achieve up to 350 miles on a single charge. Not to mention, the time it takes to recharge a hydrogen fuel cell bus is comparable with natural gas fueling times.

These characteristics, and others, align with SunLine’s commitment to offering dependable and environmentally responsible transportation to the Coachella Valley.

To put it simply, SunLine Transit Agency uses the process of electrolysis to produce hydrogen and also have a liquid hydrogen station where we have the hydrogen delivered. Once the hydrogen is made and pumped into the bus, hydrogen and oxygen enter the bus’s fuel cell, which produces electricity to power the engine. The only byproduct is water.

In 2000, the cost of a hydrogen fuel cell bus was $2,000,000. In 2021, the cost is $1,150,000. As a pioneer in hydrogen fuel cell technology, SunLine has held an important role in making hydrogen more accessible for transportation in various sectors.

Additionally, in the future, our station will power not only our own fleet of buses but also hydrogen trucks and other hydrogen vehicles along the I-10. By offering this power station in such an ideal location, SunLine is helping push vehicle manufacturers and purchasers into a greener future.

We will also offer a hydrogen training program to help other agencies achieve zero-emission transportation through our Workforce Training Center.

SunLine plans to have the fixed route fleet converted entirely to zero-emissions buses by 2035, five years ahead of state regulation requirements. The paratransit fleet will be entirely zero-emissions buses by 2032. This will make SunLine the first transit agency in the country to transition to 100% zero-emissions vehicles.

Our road to zero-emissions began in 1992, when the Board of Directors voted to move toward a 100% alternative fuel fleet. SunLine started with natural gas technology. By 2006, SunLine became the first agency to own and operate an H2 generation and dispensing station.

As SunLine continues to convert our entire fleet to hydrogen fuel cell technology, a mix of CNG, electric, and hydrogen fuel cell buses will be in operation. When riding the bus, look for “Hydrogen Fuel Cell” on the outside of the bus near the roofline to determine if you are riding one of our zero-emissions buses.