$15M Grant To Buy 13 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses, Build Green Hydrogen Fueling Site In MoCo

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has won a competitive grant award of nearly $15 million from the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration for the purchase of 13 new hydrogen fuel cell buses and the construction of a green hydrogen fueling site at the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance Transit Operations Center in Gaithersburg. The project will be the first public transit application of green hydrogen on the East Coast.

The award, from FTA’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, will allow for the replacement of 13 diesel-fueled buses in the county’s Ride On fleet with zero-emission, hydrogen-electric powered buses. The project also advances the county’s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035. It reduces annual emissions by 640 tons while ensuring reliable and sustainable bus service.

“This is the first project of its kind on the East Coast and drives forward several of our priorities, including converting our bus fleets to clean energy, reducing harmful emissions and improving our transit system—all in alignment with our ambitious climate goals,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said.

By producing hydrogen onsite using zero-emission electrolysis, the county avoids the byproducts of traditional fossil fuel-based hydrogen production. The zero-emission buses use hydrogen to power electric motors and emit only water from their tailpipes. The new fuel cell buses, alongside existing and planned battery-electric buses in the Ride On fleet, will enable MCDOT to provide clean, sustainable and reliable bus service.

The FTA award covers 57 percent of the total $28.6 million dollar of the Montgomery County project. The county will provide the required match from funds programmed in its capital budget for buses.

“We are consistently seeking and applying for grants to further the county’s transportation system,” MCDOT Director Chris Conklin said. “These hydrogen buses are a key element in reaching our zero-emissions goal. They have a longer service period than electric buses to accommodate longer routes in our system and are faster to refuel. Our track record of innovation and sustainability makes us well-positioned to adopt this technology successfully.”