An Analysis of the Association between Changes in Ambient Temperature Fuel Economy and Vehicle Range for Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Electric Buses

This comprehensive cold weather performance study evaluates the relationship between ambient temperature and fuel economy for zero-emission buses, providing critical data for fleet operators in cold climate regions. The research collected daily-level data from eight transit agencies – four deploying hydrogen fuel cell buses and four using battery electric buses – to capture extreme temperature impacts. Results demonstrate that range loss during temperature changes from 50-60°F to 22-32°F was significantly greater for battery electric buses (37.8% decrease) than for fuel cell electric buses (23.1% decrease). This finding has important implications for transit agencies seeking one-for-one bus replacements, as battery electric buses typically have smaller ranges than fuel cell electric buses even under optimal conditions.