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Proterra Electric Bus on The Road

2010-12-28    

Proterra, a maker of electric vehicles, unveiled an all-electric bus that can charge in 10 minutes. The company recently showed the first prototype of its EcoRide BE35 at its plant in Greenville, S.C. According to the manufacturers the bus will offer a fivefold improvement in fuel efficiency compares with a diesel bus, leading to a yield in operating savings of more than $400,000 over the lifetime of the bus.

 

First Proterra prototype city bus
First Proterra prototype bus


"Proterra is excited to see the first EcoRide BE35 bus rolling off our new assembly line," said Jeff Granato, CEO of Proterra.


The bus will be sent to the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center to be examined and tested by the FTA. The vehicle is the first all-electric bus that the FTA has examined. If it passes the FTA tests, Proterra will start selling the bus commercially.


The company has already received interest from transit agencies in the United States.


The bus is built around an all electric driveline, including an electric drive motor that allows for faster acceleration than a conventional bus, the company said.


In its current specification the vehicle can only operate for three hours without being plugged in for recharging the batteries.