Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses (2021)

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105 7.1 Overview Your transit agency already provides training on new buses, as the components or operations may differ slightly across OEMs and models. BEBs and FCEBs will have many new components and operations that your operators, maintenance staff, and facilities staff may be unfamiliar with. During this phase of deployment, provide training for your operations, maintenance, and facilities staff on the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of ZEBs. You will also need to coordinate with first responders to schedule training on potential hazards and recommended response techniques. RFP or contract language for your bus procurement should include requirements for the OEM to provide sufficient training to your staff. Best practices for personnel training and development include: • Coordinating operations and maintenance training prior to or in conjunction with bus delivery. • Ensuring that OEM-provided training includes sufficient high-voltage hazards and safety training as well as hydrogen fuel safety training, when applicable. • Requiring OEMs to conduct first responder training. PHASE 7 PERSONNEL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

106 Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses 7.2 Key Stakeholder Considerations Project Managers • Coordinate with the OEM prior to delivery of the buses to schedule all required training and make sure that you retain a copy of any materials. • Coordinate with first responders to conduct training on potential hazards and response procedures. • Develop a plan to determine what portion of your drivers and maintenance staff should be trained on the ZEB; a smaller deployment may allow you to train fewer staff initially. • Establish a plan to provide recurrent training for staff if the size of your ZEB fleet provides limited exposure opportunities. • Consider incentives to influence efficient driving behaviors as operators can significantly impact energy efficiency. Safety and schedule demands should be key considerations for any incentive program. Operations, Maintenance, and Facilities • ZEBs have different components and controls than conventional buses. Bus performance also differs. Train drivers on the differences and efficient operation of the buses. Emergency procedure recurrent training should be provided. • Maintenance staff need to be trained to service and troubleshoot all -electric propulsion and auxiliary systems, how to work with the onboard diagnostic systems, and be trained in safe work practices for high-voltage and, if applicable, hydrogen. • Operations staff should be briefed on any expected range or endurance limitations (including seasonal variations) of the ZEBs as well as expected refueling and recharging times. • Safety training is critical for all staff involved in supporting ZEB deployments. Procurement • Ensure contracts for ZEB bus and fueling technology require adherence to all applicable codes, regulations, and industry standards to ensure proper safety techniques and systems are included. Training requirements, including training hours, aids, materials, and diagnostic equipment should also be clearly defined. External Stakeholders • OEMs will provide training to your transit agency, per the requirements identified in your contract. • First responders and the local emergency response community should participate in training on potential hazards and response procedures. • Schedule and test towing training with the contractor who will ultimately tow the vehicle, as required. • Centers of excellence focused on ZEB technology may be good resources for additional training.

Personnel Training and Development 107 7.3 Staff Training Training provided by the OEM should be clearly outlined in your bus procurement documents and should occur shortly after bus delivery to limit delays in revenue service deployment. Contract specifications should include requirements for training hours, aids, materials, tools and diagnostic equipment. In advance of your buses arriving at your property, confirm what direct staff training or "train-the-trainer" training will be provided by the OEM and ensure that your transit agency has access to needed tools and materials. All employees who may be near hydrogen buses or hydrogen fueling stations must be trained in hydrogen safety. Determine what portion of transit agency staff will be trained to support the initial deployment. If ZEBs make up a small percentage of your total fleet, or are dedicated to specific blocks, it may be possible to restrict buses to a limited number of operators. This approach will focus initial training efforts to those specific operators, as well as other operators that may periodically cover shifts. This also allows operators to bid on a block knowing that it will be a ZEB, getting operators that want to drive a ZEB in the driver’s seat, and avoiding those that don’t. As you procure more ZEBs, or if you find that ZEBs are not more frequently available for service due to the lack of trained drivers, additional staff should be trained. A train-the-trainer program is a good approach to adopt for long-term training of additional and new staff members in- house. Balance staff resources required for training with those needed to support bus acceptance and validation testing. General training on considerations for ZEB deployments may be extremely valuable for any staff involved with ZEB planning. Successful deployments require all those involved to understand the costs, benefits, and goals of your deployment. This will help raise awareness and create a foundation for future deployment success. Deployments in Action One transit agency deploying ZEBs had service changes three times each year, with operators able to elect route block moves each time. Since initial ZEB training was targeted to the operators originally on the block serviced by ZEBs, any operators moved to that block required ZEB training. If this is similar to your transit agency’s approach, plan for potential training during each service change.

108 Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses 7.4 Operations Training The operator’s compartment may have different gauges or displays compared to conventional buses. Provide an overview of dashboard controls and warning signals for all drivers and maintenance staff, as well as training on the correct procedure when a warning signal appears on the dashboard. BEB operators should be trained on how to understand and use readings such as battery SOC, remaining operating time, estimated range, and other system notifications that may occur during operation. Operators should be well versed and confident about what notifications require immediate action as opposed to notifications that are simply noting items for diagnostic purposes and system upgrades. Confirm with your OEM how SOC will be reported on the dashboard or in other data monitoring services in order to properly train drivers and dispatch on how to make decisions using SOC remaining. In addition to the physical components of the bus, the FTA recommends training on concepts, working principles, and details of regenerative braking, mechanical braking, hill holding, and roll back. Training on the differences between regenerative braking and conventional friction braking is suggested. Some OEMs limit regenerative braking until the bus falls below a certain SOC threshold, which can affect braking feel. Ensure that drivers are trained for this possibility. Driving habits can significantly affect BEB efficiency and performance. Train drivers on optimal driving habits, such as the recommended levels of acceleration and deceleration to maximize efficiency. Consider providing additional training or incentives to promote efficient driving behaviors. Establish an incentive program that balances energy efficiency with safe operation of the bus, as well as demands on operators to adhere to schedule points. Since ZEBs operate with much less noise, drivers should also be aware and properly trained on the risks silent operation can pose. Pedestrians may not hear an approaching ZEB and parked buses don’t provide sound cues to notify drivers they are still running. While OEMs and third- party providers are starting to provide solutions, drivers should be sensitive to the lack of sound cues that they have become accustomed to with conventionally fueled buses. Operator training should include a process for ensuring parked buses have been turned off. Deployments in Action A transit agency deploying BEBs found that operators failing to turn off the buses at the end of the shift drained low-voltage auxiliary batteries, which eventually required replacement (CARB, 2016b).

Personnel Training and Development 109 7.5 Fueling Processes Training APTA recommends that any staff responsible for ZEB operation and maintenance are familiar with processes, procedures, and hazards associated with the fueling process and that the transit agency staff responsible for specific tasks associated with BEB charging or FCEB fueling should receive additional training on the safe operation of BEB chargers and hydrogen fueling stations. 7.6 Maintenance Training Provide training so that technicians understand how to service and troubleshoot all-electric propulsion, balance of plant (BOP) for FCEBs, and auxiliary systems. They should also know how to work with the onboard diagnostic systems, and should be trained on safe work practices for hydrogen and high-voltage systems, to include the handling, storage, and disposal of batteries. When conducting inspections, transit agency staff should be aware of the unique hazards associated with battery chargers and hydrogen fuel cells; specifically, the presence of high-voltage cables, battery-specific fire or explosion hazards, and high-pressure gas hazards that do not exist in conventional buses. 7.7 Safety Training Thorough safety training is critical for all staff involved in supporting ZEB deployments. Proper safety training will provide specific best practices and emergency procedures related to your ZEB and associated infrastructure. Some transit agencies utilize third-party services for all high- voltage system maintenance. Schedule and test towing training with the contractor who will ultimately tow the vehicle if needed. Deployments in Action Some transit agencies have found that there is a shortage of technicians with the required skillsets for electric powertrains and high-voltage servicing. The industry is addressing this need by working with community colleges and technical schools to add the required courses for ZEB technicians (Eudy and Jeffers, 2018b) . The FTA has funded Centers of Excellence for ZEB training at both SunLine Transit in California and the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority in Ohio to help facilitate this process. Additional work is also being done by both LA Metro and AC Transit to help technicians develop the necessary skillsets to support ZEBs.

110 Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses At a minimum, safety training should include: • Overview of hazards associated with battery chargers and hydrogen fuel cells, when compared to conventional fuels. • Safe handling and deactivation of high-voltage components, including required personal protective equipment (PPE) for different tasks and capacitor discharge timing. • Lockout and tagout procedures for working on energized components and systems, as specified in The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), Title 29, CFR Part 1910.147 (OSHA, 2002). • Battery-specific safety hazards, such as electrocution, arcing, and fires from short circuits. • Locations of emergency cut-off switches and fire response equipment. • Actions to take to avoid an emergency and what to do during an emergency (e.g., contact first responders, evacuate passengers, power off vehicle). • Maintenance and testing of safety critical systems like hydrogen sensors and ground- fault detection. • Hazards associated with operating and maintaining the high-pressure hydrogen storage systems to ensure proper procedures are followed when disconnecting lines. For all ZEBs, incident response procedures should include assessing high-voltage systems and risks as well as procedures for isolating risks and preventing further damage/exposure. FCEB procedures should include hydrogen hazards as well. Emergency Response Guides for battery electric bus manufacturers including Proterra, Nova Bus, BYD, and GILLIG are available on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website. 7.7.1 Hydrogen Properties Hydrogen molecules are small and lighter than air and considerations for managing hydrogen-related emergencies should address buoyancy, confinement difficulties, as well as the lack of radiant heat when burning (Center for Hydrogen Safety, n.d.). Hydrogen burns invisibly and does not produce any smoke. A hazard and operability study (HAZOP) should be conducted to ensure risks are identified, appropriate safety systems are in place, and operational and procedural controls are clear. Hydrogen fuel has no odor and cannot have an added odorant, due to hydrogen purity requirements of the fuel cell stack. Large hydrogen fires can only be extinguished by shutting off the fuel supply of the fire. Small hydrogen fires can be extinguished with dry powder retardant, carbon dioxide, a halon extinguisher, or a fire blanket.

Personnel Training and Development 111 Shut off the fuel supply of a hydrogen fire before extinguishment due to the risk of reignition. If the fuel source cannot be shut off, the fire should be contained and actions taken to prevent injury and spreading. 7.7.2 Hydrogen Fueling Station Safety Hydrogen fueling stations will have hazards similar to CNG facilities. For hydrogen stations, safety systems will include pressure relief, fire and leak detection, and flame detection systems. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrogen Safety Training Materials provide more information about general station safety system requirements and operation. Safety features will be incorporated into product designs to conform to SAE guidelines. Ensure that maintenance and facilities staff are aware of how the features operate and how they should be tested. NFPA provides the code for fundamental safeguards for generation, installation, storage, piping, use, and handling of hydrogen in compressed gas (GH2) or cryogenic liquid (LH2) form. The DOE’s Hydrogen Emergency Response Training Resources guide highlights that general station safety systems include: • Pressure relief systems: o Burst disks, o Pressure relief valves/devices (PRV/PRD), and o Safety vents. • Fire and leak detection systems: o Telemetric monitoring, o Hydrogen gas detectors, o Ultraviolet/infrared (UV/IR) cameras, and o Fueling line leak check on nozzle connect. • Design elements: o Engineering safety margins and analysis (HAZOP), o Hydrogen compatible materials, o Siting to established regulations, and o Cross-hatched areas for user attention. • Other systems: o Emergency stops, o Dispenser hose breakaway devices, o Impact sensors at dispenser, o Controlled access, o Excess flow control (fueling), and o Pre-coolers (-40°F).

112 Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses 7.7.3 First Responder Training Coordinate OEM training for local first responders in advance of revenue service deployment to ensure proper emergency response procedures will be followed if an incident does occur. Ensure that emergency personnel have the contact information for a designated staff member within the transit agency in the event of an emergency. First Responder Training Could Include: • How to distinguish electric buses from conventional buses (including NFPA Hazard placards and SAE J2578 identification). • How to best approach a battery electric vehicle fire and how a battery electric vehicle fire differs from a conventional internal combustion vehicle fire . • Properties of lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries and the distinct fires each produces. • How to isolate high-pressure and high-voltage systems. • Overview of the location of important components on a ZEB, such as batteries, electric motors, control panels, and inverters. • Location of emergency cut-off switches to disconnect the electrical system from energy storage devices. • Proper procedures for disconnecting batteries and isolating them from the bus . • How to treat chemical burns and neutralize battery fluid . • Understand all hazardous fluids being used and proper storage methods . • Information on any potential explosive or toxic gas hazards that batteries may pose . • Hydrogen release and hydrogen flame indicators (e.g., venting/hissing sounds, thermal waves). • How to attack a hydrogen fire and how to redirect venting hydrogen away from ignition sources. 7.8 Additional Resources General Training • Design Guidelines for Bus Transit Systems Using Electric and Hybrid Electric Propulsion as an Alternative Fuel, Federal Transit Administration • Recommended Practice for Transit Bus Operator Training, American Public Transportation Association • Recommended Practice for Transit Supervisor Training, American Public Transportation Association Safety • The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), Title 29, CFR Part 1910.147, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Personnel Training and Development 113 • Emergency Response Guides from Alternative Fuel Vehicle Manufacturers, National Fire Protection Association • Hydrogen Emergency Response Training Resources, U.S. Department of Energy • Hydrogen Fuel Cell Engines and Related Technologies Course Manual, U.S. Department of Energy First Responder Training • Emergency Response to Incident Involving Electric Vehicle Battery Hazards, National Fire Protection Association • Hybrid and EV First and Second Responder Recommended Practice, Society of Automotive Engineers • Introduction to Hydrogen Safety for First Responders, U.S. Department of Energy (requires free registration) HAZOP Analysis • Hazard and Operability Studies – Application Guide (IEC 61882), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) ZEB Centers of Excellence • West Coast Center of Excellence • Midwest Hydrogen Center of Excellence