There’s been plenty of buzz lately about the availability of electric vehicles for the masses. Perhaps not as exciting as the upcoming Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt, mass transit is also going green at a staggering pace. In fact, the world’s first rapid-charge electric bus will be hitting Los Angeles-area streets in November.
The Proterra EcoRide BE35, dubbed the ‘Ecoliner,’ will be entering the fleet of Foothill Transit, which is said to be the first transit agency in the United States to use a rapid-charge electric bus. It will be traversing line 291 between the Los Angeles County cities of Pomona and La Verne.
“The first commercial deployment of Proterra’s battery-electric buses by a major transit agency like Foothill Transit is a significant milestone for Proterra and a bold step by the nation in our collective effort to decrease dependence on fossil fuel,” Proterra President and CEO Jeffery Granato said.
Powering the Proterra bus are lithium titanate batteries from Altairnano, which are said to hold up to repeated partial recharges. After only a ten minute rapid charge, the bus will be able to operate for three solid hours. Luckily, the 291 route also includes a drive-in docking station that will help keep the bus moving without interruption.
“We look forward to additional communities throughout the U.S. and globally benefiting from the highly efficient, cost effective, clean alternative transit solution now available with the introduction of the EcoRide BE35,” said Granato.
The BE35 bus, which comes with a $1 million price tag, was paid for by stimulus funds. While the price will keep it out of reach for some municipalities, Proterra insists that the bus will save transit authorities $300,000 in lifetime operating expenses overall.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m glad to see we are making advances in alternative fuel technologies. Hopefully this is the first of many buses like this and the price tag gets reduced so more municipalities can afford them.
Good to hear but am afraid that the price tag will make it tough to adopt these buses.
I wonder why do the companies end up in making the environment friendly stuff so expensive.
Very nice indeed. Wish most transit agencies in big north american cities can at least aim for hybrid vehicles.
You must log in to post a comment.