The Zero-emission Transit User Group (Z-TUG) is a California effort made up of CNG fleets seeking to comply with the California Z-Bus Regulation and provide fleet compatible propulsion technologies for the balance of their fleets. Z-TUG is administered by CALSTART in a unique partnership with the U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the South Coast Air Quality Management District and member agencies.

The Z-TUG is a user driven process – made up of transit properties – and modeled after the process used for the Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF).  HTUF has proven to be a highly successful program to jump-start the commercial hybrid truck industry in North America. Its track record of success, and the results in terms of industry development and product launches, has benefited truck makers, suppliers and the commercial customer user fleets. The benefits to the customers are earlier availability of this more fuel-efficient, lower emission technology for medium and heavy-duty fleets. Faster introduction and larger pilot quantities have also led to reductions in price increments making public incentive programs an effective policy options which, in turn, has accelerated the market entry of this technology.

As a result of the Z-TUG process, combined with accomplishments of the FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCBP), the transit properties in Southern California are now actively seeking to explore the technology paths for compliance with the Z-Bus regulation. Similar to the HTUF experience, the industry anticipates a speedier introduction of key technologies and larger pilot programs tailored for transit. The expectation is that Z-TUG can pull-forward the introduction of zero-emission enabling-technology with a commensurate price reduction and sustainability necessary for successful transit market entry.