Hybrid Buses: Costs and Benefits

A fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute detailing the costs, benefits, and federal funding mechanisms for hybrid-electric buses in the United States as of 2007.

• In 2005, buses provided over 60 percent of the 9.7 billion transit passenger trips in the United States, with approximately 84 percent of those buses powered by diesel combustion engines.
• Hybrid-electric buses, which combine an electric motor with an internal combustion engine to reduce energy consumption and emissions, carry a significant price premium over diesel buses. A 40-foot hybrid bus typically costs between $450,000 and $550,000, whereas a conventional diesel bus costs between $280,000 and $300,000.
• Federal programs help offset the higher cost of hybrid buses. The Clean Fuels Grant Program covers 90 percent of the incremental cost of alternative fuel buses, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) covers up to 80 percent of the purchase price for standard diesel buses.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2007). Hybrid Buses: Costs and Benefits. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-hybrid-buses-costs-and-benefits

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Hybrid Buses: Costs and Benefits. 2007. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-hybrid-buses-costs-and-benefits.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Hybrid Buses: Costs and Benefits |date=20 March 2007 |url=https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-hybrid-buses-costs-and-benefits |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2007hybrid, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Hybrid Buses: Costs and Benefits}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2007}, month = mar, url = {https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-hybrid-buses-costs-and-benefits}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }