Princeton Council Approves New Electric Bus Shuttles
The municipality plans to acquire two electric shuttles to modernize its bus service using a state grant.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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The Princeton Council voted 5-1 to move forward with the purchase of two new Micro Bird electric shuttles for the town's municipal bus service. The project will be partially funded by a $434,000 state grant from the Department of Environmental Protection.
Why it matters
The town faces a deadline to accept state grant funds by the end of October, making this the final opportunity to secure support for the vehicle acquisition. Officials view the transition as a way to reduce long-term maintenance costs and lower carbon emissions for the local community.
The town expects to save $130,000 in fuel and maintenance costs over four years while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 93.6 metric tons. The total purchase cost exceeds $700,000 for the two shuttles.
The players
Princeton Council
The local governing body responsible for municipal policy, budgeting, and authorizing large-scale town acquisitions.
Department of Environmental Protection
The state agency that manages environmental policies and provided the grant funding for the shuttle project.
WeDriveU
A private transportation company currently contracted by the town to operate its municipal bus service.
Hoover
The local vendor selected to supply the two Micro Bird shuttle vehicles to the municipality.
The details
Princeton will source the two Micro Bird shuttles through the local vendor Hoover and must pay the full balance before receiving reimbursement from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Because the town does not currently own Level 3 fast chargers, the shuttles will require maintenance transport to service sites in Flanders or Toms River.
Timeline
The town first attempted to acquire electric shuttles in 2018.
The town received the initial grant offer and authorization in 2023.
The deadline for Princeton to accept the state grant funds is October 2026.
The municipal contract with transit operator WeDriveU expires in December 2026.
The new electric shuttles are expected to be available by June 2027.
Roadmap
Princeton's pivot to electric transit reflects a broader municipal trend of replacing aging gas-powered fleets with low-emission alternatives to meet climate goals. This shift positions the town to eventually move away from its dependency on traditional transit vendors as charging infrastructure matures.
Residents should anticipate the new electric shuttles to enter service by June 2027, potentially offering a more sustainable commuting experience. The move is designed to stabilize long-term operational costs for the municipal transit system.
The takeaway
By moving forward with this purchase, the council secures critical state funding that might otherwise expire. Local commuters can expect an update to the transit fleet in 2027 that prioritizes lower carbon emissions over existing gas-powered service models.
Further reading
Learn more about the local transition to green transit at Electric Vehicles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Patch.
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