Battery-Electric Trains
Stadler FLIRT: The Utah Legislature made an appropriation to ASPIRE to partner with the Swiss company Stadler to develop and build a battery-powered two-car-trainset at their North American Headquarters in Salt Lake City. The Battery-electric FLIRT — a single-decker, lightweight train — will be the first passenger train in the U.S. to demonstrate electrified public transportation without overhead electric infrastructure, enabling emission-free travel and allowing for longer routes.
While Stadler’s focus is on the design and build of the trainset itself, ASPIRE will focus on charging infrastructure, workforce development, and potential outcomes, such as economic impacts and improving air quality.
This demonstration coincides with Phase 3 of Utah’s Unified Transportation plan, which designates electrification upgrades to North- and South-bound FrontRunner routes as a priority by 2050.
Electric Buses
Since 2016, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) has aimed to make its fleet zero-emissions. As technology matures, UTA plans to electrify more than 1/3 of its buses in operation along the Wasatch Front by 2040, and supplement other portions of the fleet with alternative fuel sources.
ASPIRE is working with UTA to analyze and develop smart charge management strategies to power electrified transit routes while optimizing the vehicles’ health and shaving peak load times for the grid. Together, the goal is to create an ecosystem of reliability for charging infrastructure where communities, vehicles, and agencies all benefit.