New York City launched 1,000 new all-electric MTA buses into service, completing Phase 1 of what officials say will be the largest public electric bus fleet in the Western Hemisphere by 2030. The buses, manufactured at US assembly plants, will serve high-ridership routes across all five boroughs.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the launch transformational for urban transit and air quality in the city, noting that the new buses will eliminate an estimated 120,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually compared to the diesel buses they replace. The South Bronx and northern Manhattan corridors are expected to see the most immediate air quality benefits.
The $4.2 billion Phase 1 investment was funded through federal infrastructure grants, state climate bonds, and the MTA's capital plan. Phase 2, scheduled for 2027-2028, will add another 2,000 electric buses and complete the transition by 2029.