Ohio Transit Authority Receives $400,000 for Natural Gas Buses

The Central Ohio Transit Authority has received a $400,000 alternative fuels vehicle conversion grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The funds will be used for components of 18 buses powered by CNG that COTA will order in 2018 for delivery in early 2019.

In 2013, COTA committed to phasing diesel-powered vehicles out of its fleet with the goal to completely transition to CNG by 2025. Today, 150 of COTA’s 321 buses are powered by CNG, a move that has saved approximately $10 million in fuel costs.

Ohio EPA is offering one-time funding to help municipalities, schools and businesses convert diesel-powered heavy-duty fleet vehicles to cleaner burning alternative fuels. The program is supported by $5 million from the Alternative Fuel Transportation Fund of the Ohio Development Services Agency.

The grants awarded to date are providing more than $2.8 million to replace 141 vehicles with vehicles that run on CNG, LNG or other gaseous fuels.