Every bus used for public transportation in California will be a zero emissions vehicle by 2040 as the result of a new initiative approved this week by the Air Resources Board.

“A zero-emission public bus fleet means cleaner air for all of us. It dramatically reduces tailpipe pollution from buses in low-income communities and provides multiple benefits especially for transit-dependent riders,” CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols said. “Putting more zero-emission buses on our roads will also reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases, and provides cost savings for transit agencies in the long run.”

According to Electric Vehicle Research, the new regulation is part of a statewide effort to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for 40% of carbon dioxide emissions and up to 90% of the pollutants that cause smog. When fully implemented, the regulation is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 19 million metric tons from 2020 to 2050. That’s the equivalent of taking 4 million cars off the road.

Read more at CleanTechnica

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