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Financing the transition of the University of Michigan Blue transit buses to an all-electric fleet - A Project Finance Model

Ann Arbor, Mi
Project Description

The U-M President’s Commission for Carbon Neutrality (PCCN) reports a goal of fully electrifying the transit bus system called Magic Blue Bus by 2035 as part of the wider goal of achieving carbon neutrality from scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 2025. This will require the purchase of new battery electric buses (BEB) and the expansion of the current transit infrastructure to include charging facilities, all of which provide large upfront costs. The current method of financing the Magic Blue Buses includes grants and awards from Michigan Medicine. However, to attain a successful transition, more sustainable financing models must be set up. A Project Finance Model is proposed in which the university becomes an off-taker of electric bus services through a lease agreement with a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up by Proterra. In this model, the university refinances the lease through debt from bond issuance in the capital market, and gains revenues from the sale of carbon credits and the resale of excess electricity stored in the electric battery. A financial model is set up to calculate the Cost-Benefit analysis, Net Present Value (NPV), the Payback Period, and the Internal Rate of Return for the Project Finance Model. A sensitivity test is also performed to determine the optimal interest rates that investors can charge on their capital. The work provides an alternative model for various stakeholders involved in assessing the cost feasibility of a transition to a BEB fleet at U-M Ann Arbor campus by 2035.

Year
2021
Project Status
Past Project
Client Organization
The University of Michigan Blue Transit Buses
Students Involved

Michael Onolememen

SEAS Faculty Advisor
Peter A. Adriaens
Specializations
Sustainable Systems

I'M READY TO APPLYI WANT TO LEARN MORE

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University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Dana Building
440 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 764-6453
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