Vine Transit Expands Zero-Emission Fleet for Cleaner Air in Napa County

Fourteen new electric buses are now rolling through Napa County as Vine Transit accelerates its transition to a cleaner, greener fleet. Made possible by federal grants supporting sustainable transportation, these zero-emission buses will reduce greenhouse gases, improve air quality, and provide riders with a quieter, smoother trip.

“Our diesel buses were long past their useful life, and we have been eagerly awaiting these new Gillig battery electric buses,” said Rebecca Schenck, director of transit for the Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA), which operates Vine Transit. “Every zero-emission bus we put on the road strengthens our commitment to cleaner air and better mobility for Napa County.”

Replacing just one diesel bus with an electric model eliminates roughly 100 metric tons of carbon emissions every year—a significant step since transportation is the leading source of greenhouse gases. NVTA has set a goal of operating a zero-emission fleet by 2040.

The new buses were funded through two competitive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants. In 2021, NVTA received $8.4 million from the Buses and Bus Facilities Program to purchase eight buses and install charging infrastructure at its state-of-the-art Vine Transit Maintenance Facility.

The following year, the agency secured an additional $6.3 million Low or No Emission Grant award to buy six more electric buses. That year, the FTA awarded just 150 projects nationwide out of more than 530 applications—highlighting the strength and importance of NVTA’s proposal.

Vine Transit put its first electric buses into service in 2022. With these latest additions, 25% of the fleet is now zero-emission, marking another milestone toward a cleaner future. The new maintenance facility is already equipped to support electric and hydrogen technologies, as they become available locally.