Metro’s first 60-foot electric buses hit the street

Two new 60-foot electric buses made their debut Monday morning on the W4 route from Anacostia to Deanwood.

These buses are the first to help Metro meet its goal of an entirely zero-emission bus fleet by 2042. 

Every ride you take on transit is an environmentally friendly decision, but these electric buses provide additional sustainability and quality of life benefits.

"These new buses will help improve air quality for our communities,” Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke said. “One of the most underrated aspects of the electric bus is the reduction in sound pollution in our cities.

“All of this goes toward our sustainability goals of combating climate change and ensuring DMV residents have healthy, livable neighborhoods.”

The New Flyer Xcelsior has zero tailpipe emissions, which means improved air quality. They’re also much quieter and will have a smoother ride with less vibration since electric buses don’t have an internal combustion engine. 

Improved customer amenities include digital passenger information screens, USB charging ports, and new fare boxes.

The new buses mostly look the same from the outside, but it’s a greener ride for the environment. Look for the green electric plug logo and “Zero-Emission Electric Bus” on the side.

The first two articulated buses will be deployed on the W4 route from Anacostia to Deanwood. 

The buses began routes early this morning, but you can still catch them leaving the Anacostia station bus loop at about 2:36 p.m. and 5:06 p.m. and Deanwood station bus loop at about 4:10 p.m. and 6:24 p.m. You can also track them in real-time at wmata.com/live by selecting the “Special Edition” tab. The buses will appear as green electric plug logos but will only be on the tracker when the vehicles are in service.

Maintenance and operations staff can remotely monitor the buses' performance and battery charge levels. The buses charge at the Shepherd Parkway Bus Division and regenerative braking helps to extend the battery life. 

Metro has already placed orders for ten more electric buses, with deliveries expected to begin in 2024. While we’re working our way to a zero-emission future, our existing buses are among the most fuel-efficient per-person vehicles on the road. About 40% of our 1,600-bus fleet are hybrid-electric buses.

For more information, visit the Zero-Emission Bus webpage.