Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Bus Workforce Development for Transit Agencies

This report aims to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for operators and maintenance technicians to work on fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) as well as assessing current training programs and investigating effective workforce recruitment and retention strategies. The researches conducted interview with transit industry stakeholders, including from agencies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), training organizations, and industry associations. Findings suggested that, more than a training issue, working with FCEBs effectively is a system-level challenge. The report suggests developing curriculum frameworks for technician and operator training, developing talent internally, and creating apprenticeships and regional training consortia. Researchers also found that having a national certification, investing in regional training infrastructure, and building stronger community college partnerships are also beneficial for helping the workforce build skills for these vehicles.