On Thursday, Colorado-based manufacturer of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle systems and transit buses, Proterra LLC and Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., provider of energy storage systems, introduced the only made-in-America electric rapid-charge hybrid bus that meets California's zero emission rules to Washington DC policymakers

Proterra's initial product, a 35-foot all-electric transit bus, has been designed to enable transit agencies to replace conventional diesel buses on a one-for-one basis with an electric transit bus that runs 24/7, according to the company. This is accomplished by combining Proterra's light-weight composite body, highly efficient ProDrive, advanced TerraVolt energy storage system (powered by Altairnano batteries) and on-route rooftop FastCharging station to charge the batteries in five to 10 minutes.

The vehicle achieves between 18 and 29 miles per gallon diesel fuel equivalent fully loaded with 68 passengers.

Production of Proterra's transit bus using lithium-titanate batteries supplied by Altairnano could create over 6,000 green jobs in 21 states. A fleet of 500 buses operating over 12 years could cut emissions of CO2 by 840,000 tons and reduce oil consumption by 82 million gallons, according to the company.

In Washington for the week, Proterra and Altairnano executives and representatives of the Center for Transportation and Environment held meetings and bus tours with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, leaders in the House of Representatives and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.