Continue funding support for the operation of the FTA bus testing center at penn state universitys larson transportation institute (LTI) specifically by supporting purchasing of electric vehicle…

This $2,000,000 federal Cooperative Agreement award from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the Bus Testing program (CFDA 20.529) provides funding to The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) to support the operation of the FTA Bus Testing Center at the university's Larson Transportation Institute.

The award will be used to purchase electric vehicle charging hardware and support equipment to complete the construction of a new electric vehicle charging facility at the Bus Testing Center's test track. This will support the continuation of federally-mandated testing of new and previously tested transit bus models to evaluate their maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise. Penn State will prepare comprehensive test reports with pass/fail scores for each bus model, informing the procurement decisions of FTA grantees. The expected outcome is a modern, well-equipped facility that enables the Bus Testing Center to provide the test results needed to ensure FTA-funded transit buses meet minimum performance criteria.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to continue funding support for the operation of the FTA bus testing center at penn state universitys larson transportation institute (LTI) specifically by supporting purchasing of electric vehicle charging hardware and support equipment for the new test track charging station in support of the continued operation of the bus testing center. This work involves performing federally mandated testing of transit buses to satisfy the requirements in 49 U.S.C. 5318 and 49 CFR part 665.

Activities

The funding provided by this agreement will be used to purchase electric vehicle charging hardware to complete the construction of the new electric vehicle charging facility at the test track. The activities conducted under this award support the continuation of testing on new bus models and previously tested bus models produced with major changes that are intended to be purchased using FTA funding. Buses will be tested for maintainability reliability safety performance (including braking performance) structural integrity fuel economy emissions noise. LTI will prepare a comprehensive test report for each bus model tested that will provide a pass/fail score in accordance with the federal regulation.

Expected outcomes

The expected outcome to this work is to have a modern well-equipped facility for charging electric-powered buses which will in turn support the bus testing centers objective to provide comprehensive test results that will inform the decision making of FTA grantees during the procurement process. Reports will also provide a pass/fail score that determines whether a new bus model meets the minimum expected performance criteria necessary to be eligible for FTA funding.

Intended beneficiaries

The intended beneficiaries of this work include taxpayers FTA grantees procuring new bus models bus manufacturers that will enhance the performance reliability and safety of their vehicles and transit users who will benefit from more reliable efficient and safer buses.

Subrecipient activities

There are no subrecipients under this award.