GILLIG LLC announced 45 transit agencies have chosen to partner to utilize their federal awards to invest in the company's clean-energy buses for their fleets.
The awards were made possible through Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) annual Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs. These dovetailed programs were developed in 2016 to support upgrading and expanding public mass transit fleets, improving bus facilities, and for the Low-No program specifically, funding the transition from older higher-emissions vehicles to more efficient, less polluting fleets.
With $1.66 billion available, FTA's competitive grant process selected 150 projects across 48 states and territories. Out of the 115 projects that include the acquisition of new vehicles, 1,100 new zero-emissions vehicles will join America's transit systems, nearly doubling the current no-emission transit buses in-service. This historic level of funding was made possible by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as well as through other Federal investments aimed at increasing access to public transit and decreasing overall carbon emissions.
GILLIG's portfolio of clean-tech buses provides transit agencies with a range of solutions that align with the purposes of FTA's Low-No Emissions program. With GILLIG's proven platform supporting CNG, Hybrid-Electric, Clean Diesel, and Battery Electric options, customers can utilize their funding as it best serves their unique transit system's needs.
"We are honored to be the trusted partner for each of these awarded agencies, and we look forward to celebrating the impact these new buses will have in their communities," said Bill Fay, GILLIG's VP, sales. "GILLIG buses have long set the standard of quality and reliability for American public transit. This historic funding will allow GILLIG and our partners throughout America to shape a greener, cleaner future of our nation's public transit systems."
Fitting the trends of transit agencies shifting to cleaner, lower-emission technology, nearly half of GILLIG's partnerships are utilizing Low-No funding to purchase the company’s zero-emissions Battery Electric Bus. This third-generation iteration of their Battery Electric Bus, dubbed the Gen3, is built on the same proven platform durability as previous generations but now has a battery capacity of up to 686 kWh, as well as increased compatibility with depot and opportunity modular charging solutions, including plug-in, overhead conductive, and wireless inductive charging options.
The Gen 3 Battery Electric bus is built on the Low-Floor platform shared across all GILLIG's bus products, ensuring a high degree of operator and mechanic familiarity and part commonality. But with the all-new battery capacity, this next generation offers a 32% increase from previous models, ensuring customers do not have “range anxiety” as they work to reduce their fleet's emissions.
The advancement in capacity and range is a result of GILLIG's new partnership with the modular lithium-ion battery manufacturer AKASOL. AKASOL's ultra-high energy batteries have industry-leading proprietary safety features and offer various scalable capacity configurations.
Alongside the new batteries reducing concerns about range, GILLIG offers customers further support by creating customized charging solutions to be fulfilled with their new Battery Electric Buses.
