(December 3, 2025) Four new electric buses joined the Davenport CitiBus fleet! The electric buses are now in service on the eleven routes that crisscross the city. The new buses phase out twenty-year-old higher-emission and more costly diesel buses. The first thing passengers will notice is the quieter, smoother ride. Keep reading for more on the electric technology, the City’s investment, and expected cost savings.
Electric bus investment
The City of Davenport paid for the buses thanks to federal and local grants, plus City funds. In total, it was a $6.25 million investment. Federal funding covered 85% of the bus costs, 90% of the charging station costs, and 80% of any remaining expenses, including training for mechanics, operations, and fire department representatives. The project would also not have been possible without the local match grants from MidAmerican Energy and the Regional Development Authority.
Davenport applied four times (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022) before being selected for this FTA grant in August 2022. The electric buses cost 1.5 million each, compared to $900,000 for a diesel engine bus.
Expected cost savings
On average, each of Davenport’s buses travels 35,000 to 45,000 miles per year. The cost savings for the four buses are estimated to be between $11,000 and $43,000 per year. The cost of powering the electric buses and their maintenance will run between $.23 and $.40 per mile. Compare that to diesel fuel and maintenance costs of approximately $.31 to $.71 per mile.
As the buses are put into operation, data will be collected and analyzed to evaluate the costs of the electric buses as compared to diesel. Downtime, operating costs, and maintenance will all be factors considered. This information will be used when updating the ongoing bus replacement schedule.
Charging the buses
Physically, the buses look similar to the traditional diesel buses. One notable difference is the large “cap” on the top of the bus. That’s one of the places where the batteries are stored. There are six battery packs on board – on top, under the bus, and at the back.
To support the electric technology, there is also new charging infrastructure as part of the system. The buses are charged nightly, powering them up for the next day’s 12-hour shift, no matter what the route. The batteries are expected to operate well, even in cold temperatures. All of the electric buses have a diesel heater to keep the bus warm in the winter. The batteries will see a dip in performance, but based on the numbers, the City expects the buses to still run a 12-hour day with the heater on before needing a recharge.
Getting buses on the road
It took 18 months after the order for the buses to arrive in Davenport via semi. From there, the City bought and installed the charging stations and started introducing the team of drivers and mechanics to the new equipment. Drivers received classroom and hands-on training to operate and understand how the electric buses function. The most significant difference between electric and diesel is the regenerative braking system. Drivers had to learn how to ease into starts and stops, which both conserves battery power and results in a smoother overall ride.
Curious about CitiBus? Learn more about the routes and schedules here.
