The 40-foot Proterra ZX5 can be equipped with 660 kWh of energy storage to deliver up to 329 miles of drive range, which represents the most energy storage and longest drive range of any 40-foot electric bus available in the market today.
The company takes previously used, internal combustion engine buses and remanufactures them into like-new vehicles containing ZEPS all-electric drivetrain systems.
The delivery represents a significant advance toward TTC’s goal of purchasing all emission-free buses beginning in 2025.
One bill requires all new transit bus purchases starting in 2029 to be zero-emission buses, while the second would create contracting incentives for agencies to procure these buses from manufacturers that utilize labor from high-need communities within New York State.
Under the partnership, Bustech will incorporate Proterra’s battery technology into the ZDi’s integrated chassis systems.
The 30-foot K7M buses will serve as parking lot shuttles, bringing passengers to the airport terminals.
To provide owner’s engineer services and design the new chargers and transformers, MRTA has hired Hailey-based POWER Engineers Inc.
Using wireless, inductive power transfer pads embedded in the roadway, AVTA’s electric vehicles can seamlessly charge while on route, drastically reducing the need for large battery packs and cumbersome charging stations.
One report points out that the cost of battery technology decreased by 87% in 2019, and by 2023, it is estimated that average prices will be close to $100/kWh.
The research is the first of its kind to analyze the performance of such a large sample of buses (+100) consistently over several seasons and months, and to look separately at how much 40- and 60 foot-buses consume in cold, normal, and high temperatures.