The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is a left-of-center nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It operates as a charitable advocacy group advancing zero-emission transportation technologies, including electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. ¹

The organization positions itself at the intersection of environmental advocacy and technological innovation, leveraging public-private partnerships to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and charging infrastructure. ¹

Background

Since its founding, Center for Transportation and the Environment has managed over $1.2 billion in research and demonstration projects, collaborating with more than 200 companies across the United States to commercialize cleaner transportation. ² The organization’s portfolio includes large-scale demonstration projects for electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, such as transit buses and freight trucks, alongside infrastructure development efforts to deploy electric-vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling networks. ³ These initiatives are often supported by federal and state grants, including funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Air Resources Board. ⁴

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded nearly $9 million to the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) to support research focused on zero-emission transit bus development and commercialization. ⁵ This funding aligns with the center’s mission to advance zero-emission vehicles and their supporting infrastructure. CTE integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles into all its projects and emphasizes “climate justice” as a driving force behind its work. This includes prioritizing zero-emission transit options for Black and other minority communities as part of a broader effort to address pollution-related inequalities historically imposed on marginalized groups in the United States. ⁵

Financially, CTE relies heavily on government contributions. They accounted for over 99 percent of all grants and contributions CTE received in 2023, representing more than 86 percent of its total revenue. ^{5 6}

Core Programs

Center for Transportation and the Environment also engages in policy advocacy and workforce development initiatives aimed at promoting zero-emission vehicle adoption strategies while training technicians for cleaner transportation systems. ⁷ The organization advises governments on regulatory frameworks that support emissions reductions while ensuring equitable access to clean transportation technologies for underserved communities. ⁸ Its projects often prioritize environmental justice concerns by targeting urban corridors disproportionately affected by air pollution. ⁷

CTE actively shapes transportation policy through regulatory advocacy, grant allocation, and public-private partnerships that align corporate interests with government climate goals. ⁸

1. Center for Transportation and the Environment. “Our Mission & Impact.” Accessed April 7, 2025. https://cte.tv/mission.
2. Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE). 2023. CTE Launches NorCAL ZERO Project to Deploy 30 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Trucks. October 25, 2023. https://cte.tv/post/cte-launches-norcal-zero-project.
3. Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. 2023. California Launches World-Leading Hydrogen Hub. July 17, 2023. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/07/17/california-launches-world-leading-hydrogen-hub.
4.  Groom, Nichola. 2023. “US Awards Up to $2.2 Billion to Speed Clean Hydrogen Development.” Reuters, November 20, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-awards-up-22-billion-speed-clean-hydrogen-development-2024-11-20.
5. U.S. Department of Transportation. “Award Summary: GA-2024-014_6955.” USAspending.gov. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_GA-2024-014_6955.
6. Center for Transportation and the Environment, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Part VIII https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/582052891/202412509349301401/full
7. Alison Smyth, “Beyond Batteries: The Case for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses in Zero-Emission Transit,” Center for Transportation and the Environment (blog), April 14, 2025, https://cte.tv/post/beyond-batteries-the-case-for-hfc-buses-in-zo-transit.
8. Energize Innovation Fund. “Center for Transportation and the Environment.” Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.energizeinnovation.fund/innovation-partner/center-transportation-and-environment.