MBTA electric buses use diesel heaters below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve battery range
By Eve
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's new battery electric buses rely on diesel burning auxiliary heating units when temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, consuming 0.8 gallons per hour to maintain passenger warmth while preserving battery power. The MBTA reports the buses averaged over 160 miles per charge during winter testing with diesel heat, compared to an estimated range under 100 miles if relying solely on electric heating. Officials told StreetsblogMASS that keeping batteries from getting too cold has the biggest impact on range improvement.
Why it matters: Transit operators procuring electric bus fleets in cold climates must account for auxiliary heating systems and their fuel costs in total cost of ownership calculations. The disclosure highlights a technical compromise between zero emission goals and operational range requirements that may influence specification decisions for northern latitude deployments.