Electric Buses Now Rolling at University of Alabama Double As Research Labs

The University of Alabama's fleet of 50 buses traverses 'The Capstone' and the streets of Tuscaloosa day and night, resulting in a lot of fuel usage and environmental issues, but those problems are being addressed by $10 million initiative to fund and deploy research into electric bus technology.

First announced in 2022, $8 million in government funding is from a Federal Transit Administration grant for a sensor‑based study of battery‑electric transit vehicles. UA is matching that funding with another $2 million.

The research is being conducted by UA’s Alabama Transportation Institute and Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies.

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Working with manufacturer New Flyer, the buses are a rolling lab, providing day-to-day, on-and-off campus transportation for students, faculty and staff.

While the student-designed Crimson Ride buses go about their daily rounds, researchers are studying how Alabama’s summer heat affects battery range and air-conditioning demand, as well as innovative charging strategies, route optimization and long-term vehicle performance.

Additionally, future student projects will explore ways to improve efficiency in extreme weather.

“There are all sorts of operational questions we can now answer with data these buses are generating,” said Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian, executive director of the Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies and chief mobility research and development officer at the Alabama Transportation Institute, in a UA release. “How much energy does a bus use on real routes? What happens on extremely hot or cold days? How do we optimize range and efficiency? Those are questions that can only be answered through real-world experience.”

The research also includes the use of a relatively new technology called C-V2X, for Cellular Vehicle‑to‑Everything.  It is a wireless platform that lets vehicles communicate with traffic signals, energy systems, vehicle-to-grid technologies, and campus energy management. Researchers are exploring ways electric buses could one day help stabilize electrical grids and integrate with renewable energy resources.

“The first thing people notice is how quiet they are,” Balasubramanian said. “There is no diesel noise. The ride is incredibly smooth, and the air conditioning stays at a constant level.”

While UA is a leading participant in the research, at least five other college campuses are participating in various other aspects of electric bus usage, including Ohio State, Cal-Irvine, Georgia Tech, Utah, and Texas A&M.

UA's involvement in the project is notable because its buses are upgrading the campus fleet while simultaneously being used as a formal research platform. The UA electric fleet will play a significant role in the future of public transportation.