This project implements the green hydrogen technology in transit for the first time in the State of Maryland. The new hydrogen fuel production and fueling station will operate at the County's existing David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operations Center (EMTOC) in Gaithersburg. This facility will power the County's first 13 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs), which will be procured as part of this project. The County will partner with industry experts, the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) and Trillium, to implement the project.

Initial planning, including a Program of Requirements, was completed as part of the County's Zero Emissions Transition Plan in FY23. Preliminary design and bus procurement will begin in FY24. Completion of the facility and receipt of the buses will occur in FY25.

This project will reduce carbon emissions, increase the reliability and sustainability of the bus fleet, and is an essential step in the transition to a zero-emissions fleet to reach the goals in the County's Climate Action Plan. The new hydrogen fuel production facility will produce hydrogen fuel that is greener than traditional fossil fuel-based hydrogen, as the fuel will be produced from water using zero-emission electrolysis. Similarly, fuel cell electric buses can provide uninterrupted service on bus routes that have a standard daily range of over 150 miles, which is beyond the maximum range currently allowed by zero-emission battery-electric buses.

Electricity needed to produce hydrogen fuel at this facility will be generated by a solar microgrid to be constructed at the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operations Center.

Funding for this project includes a Low or No Emission Grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The County's match funds are provided in the Ride On Bus Fleet Project (P500814). FY24 supplemental in Federal Aid for the amount of $14,875,975.

Federal Transit Administration, Department of General Services, Department of Finance, Department of Permitting Services, Utility Companies, Industry Expert Partners