New Electric Buses Mark First University at Buffalo Transit Vehicles to Transition to Zero Carbon Mobility

University at Buffalo, WeDriveU and Zenobē welcome the first electric buses to the Stampede Fleet under UB's zero emissions roadmap

BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The University at Buffalo, its transportation solutions provider WeDriveU and fleet electrification specialists Zenobē were joined on campus today by students, administration and local officials to celebrate eight new 40-foot battery-electric transit buses now quietly transporting students, staff and campus visitors.

Eye-catching and emissions-free, they are the first of the UB Stampede fleet to transition away from diesel. Serving approximately 16,000 passengers each day, the full UB Stampede fleet will continue the transition as part of UB's 10 in 10 roadmap for a zero-emissions campus by 2030, well ahead of the 2045 deadline set under New York Executive Order 22 for state-operated heavy-duty vehicles.

"Our goal is to provide safe, reliable transportation while continuing to reduce our environmental impact," said Christopher Austin, UB Director of Parking and Transportation. "These buses help us do both. They improve the rider experience today and represent another investment in the future of mobility at UB."

This milestone transition of the Stampede fleet is expected to avoid 5,984 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, representing a 55.6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with diesel-powered service. That reduction is equivalent to removing approximately 1,395 cars from the road.

"We're proud to provide the University at Buffalo community with safe, dependable and innovative transportation solutions and congratulate UB on this incredible achievement," said Tim Wayland, Chief Commercial Officer, WeDriveU. "Together with UB, Zenobē and WeDriveU's local operations team, we're showing the impact on campuses and communities by transitioning to zero-emission fleets."

"Fleet operators and institutions need confidence that their electric buses will be ready to perform every day," said Matt Curwood, Vice President, Business Development - Transit, Zenobē North America. "Zenobē's giving that certainty through thoughtful planning, reliable charging infrastructure and long-term operational support. It's gratifying to see UB's fleet in service."

The project, announced in June 2024 with UB's selection of WeDriveU to manage campus transportation, was delivered on schedule in partnership with Zenobē, which has a longstanding global relationship with WeDriveU's parent company Mobico Group.

Ten chargers have been installed at WeDriveU's Buffalo, NY customer service center supporting UB Stampede, with plans to continue phasing diesel buses out over the next four years.

About University at Buffalo
The University at Buffalo is a premier, research-intensive public university, and is a New York State flagship university. UB's 30,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 600 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. UB offers 16 Division I intercollegiate sports that compete at the highest level of competition in the NCAA. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is the largest and most comprehensive university in the State University of New York system (SUNY), and is a member of the Association of American Universities, which is composed of America's leading research universities. UB is consistently recognized as one of the world's most exceptional, most affordable universities.

About Zenobē Energy Ltd. (Zenobē):  
Zenobē is a global EV fleet and grid-scale battery storage specialist. The company began operations in 2017 and today supports over 3,400 electric vehicles across 122 depots globally and is the largest owner and operator of EV buses in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Zenobē is also the leading owner and operator of grid-scale batteries on the Great Britain transmission network with >3.3GWh of battery storage assets in operation or under construction. Zenobē's North American headquarters are in Chicago with a subsidiary office in New York and it is actively hiring in Canada and the U.S. For more, visit Zenobe.com or LinkedIn.

About WeDriveU
WeDriveU is a leader in transportation solutions connecting communities, campuses and workplaces. The company operates fixed route public transit, paratransit, commuter shuttles and on-demand solutions in partnership with public and private sector customers across the U.S. WeDriveU is part of Mobico Group, a global mobility leader serving bus and rail passenger journeys in 11 countries. Learn more at wedriveu.com.

SOURCE Zenobē North America