Annapolis transportation officials say first city electric buses arriving soon; charging infrastructure, range and funding discussed

Marcus Moore, Director of Transportation and Parking, told the Annapolis Transportation Committee that the city expects to take delivery of its first two 30-foot battery-electric buses “this month” as part of an ongoing fleet replacement plan. He said the buses seat about 22 passengers at peak, are ADA accessible and have a manufacturer-stated driving range of about 158 miles without air conditioning. Moore said fast charging for those buses takes about two hours.

The buses were ordered in December 2022, Moore said, and deliveries have taken roughly 18–24 months due to supply-chain issues. He also said staff received confirmation from the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) to piggyback on a Georgia state contract to procure two smaller cutaway-style electric vehicles intended for shorter runs.

The transit director described the procurement funding split for the larger buses: Moore said financing for bus number one was 100% MTA capital; for the second bus the city share was about 26% of the vehicle cost. He also said the smaller cutaway vehicles will not require a commercial driver's license to operate, which he expects will ease hiring for drivers.

Moore said the city will install a DC fast charger at the transportation facility and that Public Works and Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) subcontractors were coordinating construction. He told the committee a portable charger would be used as an interim backup while the permanent fast charger is installed; the permanent installation could take about six weeks once work begins.

On everyday operations, Moore and committee members discussed how vehicle range is specified “without HVAC,” and how topography and HVAC use will reduce real-world miles. Moore said typical route duty cycles in Annapolis do not exceed roughly 180 miles in a day and that a charging-and-shift strategy (for example: AM shift / midday charge / PM shift) is expected to make the buses usable in scheduled service.

Moore also briefed the committee on the transit development plan work led by KFH (transportation planners), which he said remains on track and is expected to be presented to the full council in mid- to late February. He said recommendations in that plan could include service enhancements with associated costs that the council would need to consider during the next budget cycle.

The committee asked about disposition of replaced buses. Moore said larger heavy-duty buses are typically used until 10 years or 350,000 miles; smaller cutaways are generally retired earlier, auctioned on the federal surplus site (govdeals) and may return modest proceeds to the city (often capped at about $5,000 for federally funded vehicles). Daniel Hallworth, the city fleet manager referenced in the discussion, was identified as the staff who photographs retired vehicles and posts them for sale.

Why it matters: the buses and charging infrastructure are the first city-owned electric buses for Annapolis and are tied to a broader transit plan that could change local service patterns and operating costs. Committee members flagged practical issues — vehicle range in real-world conditions, driver certification, charger availability and installation timing — that staff said they would continue testing and report back on as the vehicles enter service.