---
title: Charging Up a New Fleet
date: 2026-04-16T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/charging-up-a-new-fleet"
section: Articles
---
# Charging Up a New Fleet

*April 16, 2026* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> First of 27 Electric Shuttle-UM Buses Come to Campus

*Shuttlebus Electric 04132026 JC 2594 1920x1080 — Two electric Shuttle-UM buses will be on display at EarthFest on Thursday. A total of 27 electric buses will replace older, diesel-fueled buses by Fall 2027. (Photos by John T. Consoli)*

The University of Maryland’s first two all-electric Shuttle-UM buses drove onto campus this month, heralding a future in which nearly 60% of the fleet will be diesel-free.

At Thursday’s [EarthFest](https://sustainability.umd.edu/earthfest-2026) celebration, the new buses will be stationed on Library Lane, on the south side of McKeldin Library, for students to get a sneak peek before they go into operation in Fall 2026.

Twenty-five additional all-electric buses will join the fleet by Fall 2027, thanks to a nearly $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Part of the FTA’s Low-No Program, the grant funded the buses, 16 charging stations with a total of 32 charging ports and infrastructure work. The electric buses—16 of which are 35 feet long and 11 of which are 40 feet—will replace Shuttle-UM’s oldest buses and will run along all of its routes. In total, the new vehicles will save an estimated 130,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually.

*\[Related:* [*UMD Awarded Nearly $40M For Electric Buses*](https://today.umd.edu/umd-awarded-nearly-40m-for-electric-buses)*\]*

Only a handful of other universities have electric buses, said Julianna Greenberg ’19, grants manager for the Department of Transportation Services (DOTS). “We are one of a select group.”

Here, DOTS’ staff gives Maryland Today a look at some of the features of the chargeable buses.



*batteries at back of Shuttle-UM bus*



*hand shows charging port in Shuttle-UM bus*



*wheel on electric Shuttle-UM bus*



*USB port*



*man shows wheelchair securements in Shuttle-UM bus*



*vent at back of Shuttle-UM bus*



**Sidebar note:**

EarthFest 2026, an outdoor festival to celebrate Earth Month and sustainability at UMD, will run from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. Thursday on McKeldin Mall. Hosted by the SGA Sustainability Committee, Office of Sustainability, Department of Resident Life and Residence Hall Association, it offers activities including plant pot decorating, plant giveaways, customizable tote bags, a Terp to Terp Campus Reuse Store open shop and much more. See the [full lineup of events](https://sustainability.umd.edu/earthfest-2026).





**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Transportation](https://today.umd.edu/topic/transportation)


**Units:** [Department of Transportation Services](https://today.umd.edu/topic/department-transportation-services)