COTA reports 5 to 10 daily service disruptions from electric buses, shifts procurement to CNG
By Eve
The Central Ohio Transit Authority is experiencing 5 to 10 missed or delayed trips daily due to electric bus reliability issues and will prioritise compressed natural gas buses in future procurement, despite a net zero emissions target by 2045. COTA purchased its electric buses between 2021 and 2024 using federal zero emission vehicle funding under the Biden administration. The authority received more than $19.9 million in 2025 Federal Transit Administration grants for new CNG buses and facility upgrades, reflecting a federal funding shift under the Trump administration away from electric to low emission alternatives.
Why it matters: Transit operators evaluating electric bus tenders now face a live case study in operational risk, with COTA's daily service failures illustrating the reliability gap that can override emissions goals. The Federal Transit Administration's 2025 pivot to CNG funding signals a changed grant landscape for US fleet electrification projects.