Transit Electrification for the Town of Vail, Colorado

When the Town of Vail looked at transitioning from diesel to alternative fuel buses, they looked to Black & Veatch, a leader in high-power electric vehicle charging infrastructure deployment.

Vail is among the first U.S. cities to begin full electrification of its diesel bus fleet. Vail Resorts is certified under the Mountain IDEAL standard as a sustainable destination — the first mountain resort destination in the world to do so. The Town of Vail has goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% reduction in 2025, 50% by 2030, and 80% by 2050.

Planning for the town’s zero-emission, fully electric bus fleet, Black & Veatch worked with the existing electrical service for the Public Works Bus Maintenance Facility and Depot to create an electrical design that would support the initial bus conversion while future proofing for increasing loads.

“We chose to work with Black & Veatch on this project due to their experience and reputation of success in the field of electric vehicle charging,” said Greg Hall, Director of Public Works and Transportation for the Town of Vail. “In our work with them, their expertise and passion for sustainability really shone through, bringing added value and success to the project.”

Full Black & Veatch project services included electrical system upgrades, technology consulting, a microgrid feasibility study, utility coordination, site survey, engineering, architectural and design services, environmental compliance, permitting, and construction quality assurance.

GILLIG was selected as the bus manufacturer, and ChargePoint provided the charging stations. Working together, in 2021, the stakeholders delivered the town’s first four electric buses, helping Vail achieve an important step toward its sustainability commitment.