McLean and Tysons bus riders could see hybrid-electric vehicles on their routes after Fairfax Connector added 19 new buses to its fleet.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) announced the additions Tuesday, Aug. 25. The buses, built by New Flyer, cost about $1.1 million apiece and were purchased with state funding, FFXnow reported.

Each bus carries geofencing technology that lets it switch from diesel to battery power in designated areas. That means the buses can run quieter and emission-free in zones where the technology is activated, then shift back to hybrid mode on longer stretches.

FCDOT Transit Division Chief Dwayne Pelfrey said the hybrids are expected to deliver "approximately 25% fuel savings and a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with traditional diesel buses."

Fairfax Connector operates several routes through McLean and Tysons, including Route 703 (Pimmit Hills), Route 715 (East Falls Church–Langley), Route 721 (Chain Bridge Road–McLean–Langley), Route 798 (Tysons–Bethesda express) and the seasonal Route 480 (Wolf Trap Express between McLean Metrorail Station and Wolf Trap's Filene Center). FCDOT has not said which routes will receive the new buses.

The 19 buses push the fleet closer to a year-end target. FCDOT spokesperson Jennifer DeAngelis told FFXnow that Fairfax Connector had 14 battery-electric buses, 19 hybrid-electric buses and 295 diesel buses in service as of the announcement. Diesel vehicles made up roughly 90% of the fleet.

By the end of 2026, the county projects 22 battery-electric and 55 hybrid-electric buses on the road, dropping the diesel count to 251. That would bring the diesel share down to about 77%, according to the county's announcement.

Another 36 hybrid-electric buses funded by a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant are expected later in 2026. Those will replace diesel buses as they retire.

The expansion continues a shift that began in 2023, when Fairfax Connector first introduced battery-electric vehicles and started testing how the technology performed in the county's transit system.

A study completed in late 2025 found the county is unlikely to fully electrify its vehicle fleet by its 2035 goal because the technology is not available for all vehicle types. Federal support for electric vehicles has also shrunk after the Trump administration eliminated EV tax credits.

No routes have been assigned yet.

FCDOT aims to have nearly a quarter of the Connector fleet running on hybrid-electric technology by the end of 2026. The department has not announced a public comment period or board vote related to the fleet expansion.