Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, CapMetro, in Texas, has signed the biggest contract for electric buses in the US. The company’s board of directors approved the purchase of 197 battery-powered city buses to swell the number to 200.
The order will cost CapMetro $255 million. In the main portion of the contract, Proterra and New Flyer will supply 56 electric buses. The rest are optional and include 126 40-foot buses and 15 60-foot bosses. CapMetro will get chargers and staff training too.
The new buses will serve the Expo Center and Pleasant Valley MetroRapid lines. CapMetro will take delivery of the first batch toward the end of 2022. They will feature modern amenities like USB charging ports, plug-in and overhead charging, open seating floor plan, digital passenger display, etc.
The electric buses will help CapMetro reduce air pollution, noise pollution, and fueling costs when operational.
The purchase of the electric buses is part of CapMetro’s plan to overhaul the city’s transport system. It includes a new rail system with underground stations and electrification of the fleet of buses.
According to CapMetro president and CEO Randy Clarke, “Today’s announcement is a major milestone for CapMetro as we strive to provide safe, clean, and equitable transportation for our community for generations to come. Public transportation has a bright future in Central Texas as we continue to bring Project Connect to life in the coming years. With this electric bus procurement, we are showing our dedication to a cleaner tomorrow.”
In the words of the president of Proterra Transit, Josh Ensign, “Proterra is incredibly proud to build on our strong partnership with CapMetro and deliver our newest, fifth-generation electric bus technology to help Austin realize its important goal of 100 percent zero-emission transportation. Through its embrace of next-generation electric bus technology and charging infrastructure, CapMetro is setting a model for others to follow in the transition to clean, quiet transportation for all.”
Renewable Brief 