Up until recently, the majority of the US public transit system was powered by polluting fossil fuels such as diesel, which pose a serious risk to public health and contribute to global warming. Now, as cities turn to zero emission transportation goals and bus fleets transition to battery-electric vehicles, quiet and sustainable public transportation is becoming more and more common.
Electric buses deliver numerous benefits to the communities they serve.
- They eliminate diesel exhaust emissions, particulate pollution, and pollutants that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, so they improve the air quality in our communities.
- They produce significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than diesel, diesel hybrid, or natural gas-powered buses.
- They will eliminate more than 2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year when compared to their diesel counterparts.
- They offer financial benefits, including substantially reduced maintenance costs and, in places where utility rate policies are favorable, reduced fuel costs.
- They reduce air pollution, thus delivering significant societal benefits, including avoided healthcare expenses that emerge from citizens who can breathe cleaner air.
Newark Airport’s Electric Buses are Part of Pledge to Follow Paris Climate Agreement
Newark Airport’s Port Authority mission to deploy 36 electric buses at its 3 metro airports is now complete. The transition is an important component of a broader environmental agenda for the agency, which includes replacing half its fleet of light duty vehicles with electric powered cars and light vans within 5 years.
Executive Director Rick Cotton announced that conversion of its fleet of airport diesel shuttle buses to battery powered electric buses is nearly finished — and 3 months ahead of schedule. “Our commitment was to make 100 percent of our shuttle fleet fully electric, and we will achieve that in the days ahead,” Cotton said.
The Port Authority transition to battery-electric buses began in October, 2018 with the acquisition of 36 Proterra battery-electric buses. The initial cost per individual bus is USD 960,000, but reductions in fuel and maintenance over the lifetime of an electric bus reduce its overall costs, which have a 10-year service life expectancy.
“Embracing all electric buses saves 1,500 tons of emissions,” said Kevin O’Toole, Port Authority board of commissioners chair. “We’ll have electric buses running as much as humanly possible.”
The authority’s Proterra electric buses have a range of 150 to 230 miles between charging.
Airports are well-suited for battery-electric bus transportation. “The terrain is flat, the routes are short, and they’ve performed extremely well,” Cotton noted. “We made available all the data on the performance of our electric buses. There have been discussions within this and other regions. We are happy to share our experiences.”
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In 2018, the Port Authority pledged to follow the Paris Climate Agreement and reduce emissions 35 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050. On January 17, 2020, Governor Murphy signed landmark legislation to boost the use of plug-in electric vehicles in New Jersey. Measures include a 100 percent electric airport shuttle bus fleet – one of the largest in the country – as well as USD 100 million in energy efficiency retrofits and new renewable energy initiatives across Port Authority facilities.
Beverly, Massachusetts: Bus Fleets Transition to Proterra EVs
Beverly, Massachusetts unveiled its first all-electric school bus this week. The new Thomas Built Buses Inc’s Saf-T-Liner® C2 Jouley electric school bus is powered by Proterra® electric vehicle technology. “We are proud to be one of the first communities in Massachusetts to acquire an electric school bus and to begin transitioning our fleet from diesel to electric,” Mayor Michael Cahill stated. “This bus produces zero emissions which creates a healthier environment for the students and residents.”
Thomas Built Buses and Proterra offer school bus operators a comprehensive, turn-key electric vehicle program that includes electric school buses, charging systems, and charging infrastructure design and installation. The Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley merges 220 kWh of total energy capacity, the highest battery capacity in the industry, with the Proterra drivetrain to offer energy efficiency and up to 134 miles of drive range to meet the needs of school bus fleets.
Additionally, the Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school bus can fast charge in about 3 hours with the Proterra DC charging system. Thomas’ authorized dealer, New England Transit Sales, Inc., is the selling dealer for the bus. New England Transit Sales, located in Tyngsborough MA, will provide ongoing training and support for the new bus.
Among the community’s sustainability goals, Beverly Public Schools intends to convert its entire fleet of 27 school buses from diesel to battery-electric.
Cahill is a member of the Climate Mayors Steering Committee, a group of over 20 mayors who will serve as a leading voice in efforts to further climate action across the US making up the Climate Mayors coalition, which represents a network of 461 US mayors across the country who are committed to upholding the Paris Climate Agreement.
Columbus, Ohio Now has 4 Battery-Electric Buses
BYD North America has delivered 4 battery-electric K7M buses to Columbia, Missouri’s transit agency, Go COMO. The buses were manufactured in the US at Lancaster, California by members of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Union, Local 105 at BYD’s factory.
With the launch of these BYD buses, Columbia becomes the first city in Missouri to put zero-emission transit vehicles into revenue service. The K7M bus specs include 22 seats, a range of up to 150 miles, and a charging time of 2.5 to 3 hours.
“We are thrilled to partner with Go COMO,” said Patrick Duan, BYD North America Vice President. “Our American-built buses are well-made, reliable, and bring innovative technology to Main Street in communities around the nation like Columbia.”
Dale Lynn, city of Columbia, Missouri transportation superintendent, noted that the 4 battery-electric buses offer sustainable transportation options to the city’s residents and visitors.
In August, BYD delivered 3- K7Ms to the Kansas City International Airport, bringing the airport’s total fleet of BYD’s American-made electric buses to 7. KCI was the first airport in the nation to deploy electric buses, using the K7Ms as parking lot shuttles, bringing passengers to the airport’s terminals.
Source: Clean Technica
