- The US state of Utah’s Zion National Park has become the first of the country’s 63 National Parks to operate a fully-electric transit fleet, after switching to 30 fully-electric buses on the site.
- The new electric buses replace a previous 39 propane-powered buses, which have been shuttling across the National Park since buses were introduced in the early 2000s, to reduce private car traffic on the site.
- Zion National Park’s electrification serves as an example for other US National Parks to follow, ensuring local clean air and fighting climate change, ensuring that the natural areas stay in place for generations to come.
Zion National Park leads by electric example
The rollout is part of President Biden’s wider Federal Sustainability Plan, which amongst several other net-zero goals, aims for 100% ZEV light-duty federal fleet acquistions by 2027, with that date set as 2035 for heavy duty acquisitions, such as the buses now rolled out at Zion National Park. Not only do the buses reduce carbon emissions, particularly important after the National Park hit a record high temperature in 2021, but they also offer increased capacity over their predecessors, alongside air conditioning for the first time, and, of course, reduce noise levels in the park.
Other National Parks also set to follow soon with an all-electric transit fleet include the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Acadia.
General Services Administration Administrator, Robin Carnahan, commented on the rollout of the fleet:
“Across government, we’re working hard to meet the Biden-Harris Administration’s governmentwide goal of transitioning the fleet to 100% electric vehicle acquisitions by 2035, including the thousands of government vehicles we manage here at GSA… This is another way government is leading by example by showing that sustainable travel is possible. Together, we can drive our sustainability goals forward, decrease pollution in our communities and national parks, and protect our nation’s natural beauty for future generations.”
Zion Forever President & CEO, Natalie Britt, added:
“Zion National Park Forever Project was instrumental in supporting the launch of the original shuttle system in 2000, and we are proud to continue that legacy with the introduction of this new electric vehicle shuttle. This project exemplifies the ongoing collaboration between our organization, the National Park Service, and our dedicated supporters. Together, we are making meaningful strides in enhancing visitor experience while upholding our commitment to sustainability.”
