An Analysis of the Association between Changes in Ambient Temperature, Fuel Economy, and Vehicle Range for Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Electric Buses

This report evaluates the effects of changes in ambient temperature on the fuel efficiency and range of zero emission buses. The report relies on data that was made available from transit agencies that have deployed hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric zero-emission buses. This analysis shows that the fuel economy and range of electric drive buses may vary significantly with changes in outdoor temperature. In planning zero emission fleet development strategy, it is important for transit agencies to understand how their zero-emission bus’s performance may change with temperature. The effects of temperature change on range may be particularly important in planning fleet development, especially for transit agencies located in climates with extreme heat or cold.