Today Proterra announced that New York MTA, which operates the largest bus fleet in the U.S., has leased five Proterra Catalyst® E2 buses that are outfitted with WiFi and USB charging ports. As part of MTA’s fleet, the Catalyst E2 buses will go into service this December and initially serve routes in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.

The lease program aims to evaluate the combined economic, environmental and performance benefits of deploying an all-electric bus fleet. Over the three-year lease, Proterra expects MTA to reduce 2,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and save approximately $560,0001 on maintenance and operating costs.

Each weekday, MTA serves on average 2.4 million riders with over 5,700 buses circulating New York City streets. MTA transit operations have already successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 17 million metric tons each year. However, this program represents MTA’s continued commitment to decarbonizing its transportation systems to meet New York City’s goal of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050.

The lease program will provide the MTA with actionable data on what works best in New York’s metropolitan environment, and will help inform future electric bus procurements. Having endured in extreme weather conditions across the U.S., including the 2014 polar vortex, the Proterra Catalyst E2 buses are well equipped for the seasonal wear-and-tear in New York, according to the company.

This zero-emission bus program also supports New York State’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV), which aims to integrate more electric vehicles seamlessly into the electricity grid. By pushing more intelligence into the grid, the program will also help inform electricity rate design for battery electric transit buses as well as what’s needed to manage an electric bus fleet at scale using demand-charge management software and pricing signals.