The city of Los Angeles on July 27 announced plans to have a fleet of fully electric, zero-emissions buses by 2030. Hilda Solis, a Metro Board Member, said the vote represents an enormous investment in the future of a healthy and prosperous Los Angeles. Authorities in the US metropolis said the project, which involves the purchase of 2,200 vehicles, would cost some $1 billion over the next ten years.
The current fleet operates on compressed natural gas (CNG), seen as the most environmentally-friendly option when the buses were purchased in the 1990s. A CNG coalition had previously protested the transition, arguing that, while the goals were worthy, electric buses were not yet a reliable technology.