As part of an aggressive effort to enhance its environmental sustainability programs, the Port Authority is adding 18 new all-electric buses to its three major airports within the next six months to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. It is the first step in eventually replacing all 36 current diesel regular shuttle buses over the next 2-3 years.

The first six all-electric buses have been delivered and are in service at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Six buses have been delivered to Newark Liberty and are scheduled to be in operation early next year, while another six vehicles will be deployed to LaGuardia by the summer of 2019. These programs include installation of new charging stations at each facility.

At each airport, the six battery-operated vehicles are projected to save approximately 269 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and approximately 40,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year. In addition, the zero emissions buses will improve local air quality by eliminating the emissions of approximately 2,000 pounds of nitrous oxide and 150 pounds of particulate matter each year. Each bus has an estimated range of about 230 miles per charge, with each charge taking less than four hours. 

“The Port Authority continues to act to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants from Port Authority facilities and activities,” said Executive Director Rick Cotton. “By expanding our use of electric vehicles and providing a more sustainable airport, we are continuing our commitment to reduce the agency’s carbon footprint.”

“Reducing greenhouse gases and air pollutants are key to the agency’s sustainability program, and will enhance our efforts to be a good neighbor in the communities where our facilities are located,” said Christine Weydig, director of the Port Authority’s Office of Environmental and Energy Programs. “All-electric buses at our major airports are an important element of our climate action strategy.”

Built by Proterra, the buses will shuttle employees and customers to areas not served by Airtrain JFK and AirTrain Newark. The LaGuardia buses would be used to transport passengers and employees to all terminals and parking lots at LGA, where plans currently are under way for construction of an AirTrain LGA.

The JFK buses were purchased with the help of rebates offered through the New York Truck Voucher Incentive program, which supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s clean energy goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide by 40 percent by 2030. The incentive program is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and has provided nearly 600 rebates in New York State since 2013.

“This deployment represents one of the largest commitments to zero-emission vehicles of any airport authority in the U.S., and we applaud the Port Authority’s goal of converting their entire bus fleet to electric vehicle technology,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. 

“In our role as an integrator of these innovative technologies, we’re helping the Port Authority reduce its carbon footprint through this groundbreaking electrification project,” said Michael D. Smith, a senior vice president for Constellation, which is involved in the installation of the charging infrastructure.