IndyGo Debuts New RIDE Battery-Electric Buses for BRT Line

IndyGo is debuting its newest battery-electric bus from RIDE (formerly BYD USA) for the upcoming Purple Line BRT route.

The 60-foot buses use near zero-emission propulsion systems, which will improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.

To further reduce emissions, the agency will produce a portion of the daily energy required to charge the rapid transit vehicles from the solar panels on top of IndyGo’s West Campus facility.

IndyGo’s Ongoing ZEBs Initiatives

Since 2015, IndyGo’s efforts of putting hybrid and electric buses into service have already resulted in significant energy savings and positive environmental impacts for the agency and the community, including:

• 2,158,098 gallons of diesel saved.
• 14,122  total metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) saved
• 1,450 total metric tons of CO2 was avoided through solar power.

Building on IndyGo’s Successful BRT Program

The Purple Line is scheduled to launch later this year and will run 15 miles, connecting downtown Indianapolis to the City of Lawrence. It will not only mean the ability to transport more people faster but will also mean significant infrastructure upgrades along the East 38th Street and Post Road corridors.

The improvements include nearly 10 miles of sidewalks, more than 350 ADA curb ramps, new street paving, a multi-use path, storm sewer separation, and much more to advance the community.        

The Purple Line comes on the success of IndyGo’s Red Line BRT, which launched in September 2019. The 13-mile, 28-station Red Line rolls within a quarter mile of more than 50,000 residents and nearly 150,000 jobs, or, one in every four jobs in all of Marion County.

The Red Line also uses battery-electric buses from RIDE and features bus-only lanes, off-board ticketing, a digital marquee displaying real-time bus information, ADA-friendly accessibility, and wind screens and drip-free roof eaves for better weather protection.