Waco City Council Approves Purchase of Three Hybrid Buses

The city opted for hybrid technology after encountering range and charging infrastructure challenges with electric bus models.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a transit bus, representing the city of Waco's shift to hybrid transportation technology. — The Waco City Council has approved the $3.7 million purchase of three hybrid buses, pivoting from electric vehicle plans due to infrastructure costs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Waco City Council approved the purchase of three new hybrid buses for a total of approximately $3.7 million. This decision marks a shift away from original plans to deploy electric buses using federal funding.

Why it matters

The transition to hybrid technology addresses concerns regarding electric bus performance on hilly terrain and long rural routes. Additionally, the city noted that infrastructure costs for charging stations had exceeded initial projections.

Each hybrid bus costs $1.02 million base plus $48,000 for options, while employee training adds $157,000 to the total cost. By comparison, standard diesel buses typically range from $450,000 to $500,000.

The players

Waco City Council

The legislative body of Waco, Texas, responsible for governing city affairs and approving public infrastructure expenditures.

Federal Transit Administration

A federal agency under the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems.

Washington State Department of Enterprise Services

A state agency that manages a cooperative purchasing program allowing municipal entities across the country to leverage state-negotiated contracts.

The details

Waco officials utilized a cooperative purchasing agreement with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services to facilitate the acquisition. The city currently operates 26 full-size transit buses and 20 smaller cutaway buses as part of its fleet.

June 2023: Waco applied for the federal electric bus grant.
November 2023: City council approved the initial electric bus grant proposal.
July 2025: The Federal Transit Administration approved the switch to hybrid buses.
June 2026: The city contracted with a cooperative purchasing agreement.
October 20, 2026: Waco City Council formally approved the purchase of three hybrid buses.

Roadmap

This move highlights the ongoing friction between aggressive municipal electrification goals and the technical constraints of current transit infrastructure. It reflects a wider industry pivot where cities are increasingly prioritizing operational reliability over purely electric mandates.

Residents can expect the new hybrid buses to join the active fleet by the end of 2027. While these buses carry a higher initial price point than traditional diesel models, the city anticipates improved fuel efficiency compared to legacy diesel units.

The takeaway

Public transit agencies must carefully weigh the operational trade-offs of electric propulsion against specific geographic and infrastructure realities. Flexibility in procurement allows cities to maintain essential services while navigating the complexities of transitioning to alternative energy sources.