In September of 2014, Lancaster, Calif.’s Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), under direction from their forward-thinking board, embarked on the historic journey to become the first transit agency in the nation to operate a 100% battery-electric zero-emission fleet by placing into service their first two electric buses.

In October, AVTA staff, their board, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, City of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, and many other local elected officials and their representatives, joined together to celebrate the agency’s 10-year anniversary of those first two electric buses beginning their journey.

“This is an incredible milestone and success,” said AVTA Chairman of the Board Marvin Crist. “Many transit agencies across the country are just now planning to purchase their first electric vehicle and AVTA is celebrating 10-years of operating electric vehicles in revenue service.”

Developing a Vision

Even before 2014, the Antelope Valley’s elected officials and AVTA’s board developed a vision for a zero-emission transportation fleet to serve the residents of the Northern Los Angeles County communities. 

In early 2014, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich funded the purchase of two 40-foot BYD battery-electric buses. This was the beginning of AVTA’s historical 100% electric fleet. 

The electric vehicles endured road testing designed by AVTA staff and BYD engineers, using weights and sandbags to simulate riders. The feasibility tests showed these buses would work well for AVTA’s local service and in September 2014, were placed into revenue service.

“AVTA’s Electric Bus Fleet Conversion project was a huge success,” continued Chairman Crist. “All of us, the staff, the board, and local officials, working together, created a smarter, greener, and more interconnected transit system.”

Driving the Future

AVTA’s 100% battery-electric fleet, the first and largest 100% electric fleet in North America, serves the Antelope Valley and areas extending south into the Los Angeles Basin. 

By using groundbreaking zero-emission battery-electric bus technology and wireless inductive charging technology, AVTA's innovative bus conversion helped pioneer a new vision for what a 21st century transit agency can accomplish.

AVTA provides local, commuter and dial-a-ride service to a population of more than 450,000 residents in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale as well as the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County.

Its total service area covers 1,200 square miles and it is bounded by the Kern County line to the north, the San Bernardino County line to the east, the Angeles National Forest to the south, and Interstate 5 to the West.