Zero emission bus professionals to gather in Philadelphia on August 27-29 for 2024 ZEB Con

The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is bringing the 12th annual Zero Emission Bus Conference (ZEB Con) to the East Coast for the first time. It’ll be scheduled on August 27-29 in Philadelphia, PA. ZEB Con will convene bus and shuttle fleet managers, industry professionals, and climate advocates from around the world. 

ZEB Con fosters knowledge sharing that accelerates the electrification of public and private transportation fleets. A key feature of the conference is the focus on both battery and fuel cell electric solutions. This year’s host, The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), will highlight its new 10 fuel cell electric bus fleet alongside their mobile hydrogen refueling solution. Attendees can also tour SEPTA’s Southern Bus District where the transit agency is entering phase two of their battery electric bus program.

ZEB Con offers 16 educational sessions featuring speakers deploying electric buses in transit, university, school, and private operations. Key presenters include Princeton University, New York Power Authority, AC Transit (CA), Exelon Corporation, Montgomery County Transit (MD), the School District of Philadelphia, Spokane Transit (WA), the University of Georgia, Metro Transit (MN), and King County Metro (WA), among many others. International speakers from London, Germany, and Canada will share case studies of large-scale ZEB deployments from abroad. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will also discuss details of its research and deployment support programs.

“Electric transportation is a critical tool for addressing climate change,” says Lauren Justice, CTE Development Director. “ZEB Con empowers fleets with practical resources to successfully adopt clean transportation technologies.”

This year, topics are framed in three tracks — “Early Adoption,” “Scaling Up,” and “Advanced Solutions” — designed to match content to where fleet decision makers are within their ZEB programs. Sessions will cover battery safety, depot design, charging optimization, utility coordination, and workforce development, among other themes. Conference attendees will hear from representatives of regional Hydrogen Hubs and gain insight into transportation’s critical offtake role for this clean fuel.  

In addition to its industry-leading educational sessions, ZEB Con boasts unique networking opportunities. Attendees can meet leading bus manufacturers and infrastructure providers in a dedicated exhibition hall and network with industry peers over dinner at the renowned Franklin Institute. 

“I have been attending ZEB Con since 2018 and I have been very happy to witness its annual growth and the united efforts of our industry,” said William Haber with King County Metro. “I continually recommend ZEB Con to all of my colleagues.”