The DC Circulator Electric Bus Pilot

Between April 2018 and April 2020, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) operated a 14-battery-electric bus (BEB) demonstration pilot (BEB Pilot) on its DC Circulator transit system.

BEBs use onboard batteries to store and distribute energy to power an electric motor and other onboard systems. Learn more about our electric fleet.

The purpose of the pilot was to assess the performance of BEBs in comparison to DDOT’s existing diesel bus fleet. During the two-year, two-phase pilot, several cost- and performance-related data were collected to evaluate the strengths and opportunities of the BEB fleet.

DDOT has committed to transitioning the fleet to BEBs based on the results of the BEB Pilot and the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018. Currently, DDOT is in the process of developing its DC Circulator Sustainability Plan that will include information on its BEB transition plan that focuses on both the fleet and facilities. This report is anticipated to be completed in 2022 and will serve as the framework for design and implementation for the full fleet transition.