The Edmonton Transit Service Orders 25 Proterra Electric Buses

September 12th, 2018 by Kyle Field

Proterra announced that the Edmonton Transit Service has locked in a contract for 25 of Proterra’s 40-foot Catalyst E2 max fully electric buses. The new buses will replace 25 aging diesel buses in what represents a celebration-worthy win for electric buses, clean air, and the people of the Edmonton, Canada.

“We’re excited to work with Proterra and be at the forefront of integrating electric buses and emerging technology into our existing fleet,” said Eddie Robar, Branch Manager of ETS. “Proterra’s clean-running and quiet electric buses are winter compatible, have a range of up to 400 kilometres and contribute to our shift toward more sustainable transportation, a low carbon city and high-quality transit service for Edmontonians.”

The move is also expected to save the transit agency some cash, at an estimated cost savings of 30% for service and maintenance. The City of Edmonton is phasing in the new buses, with the first two electric buses being used to train up the team of transit drivers, maintenance technicians, and administrators. Getting down to the nuts and bolts of the system, the first two buses will also cut the path forward in terms of infrastructure and charging system verification.

The remaining 23 buses will be put into full service in the summer of 2020 and will bring with them a new age in transit technology for Edmonton. It’s not just cleaner air either, as electric buses are often the first exposure many riders have to zero emission electric vehicle technology and can serve as the catalysts for a wave of curiosity about the technology.

Talk of electric cars often leads to a purchase, which naturally begs the question about clean air and grid power. Investigations into the local energy mix reveal how much of the grid is powered with clean hydro power in Canada, and the opportunities to further reduce the emissions footprint of utilities.

“We are honored to be selected as the battery-electric bus provider for Edmonton and to play a pivotal role in helping the city move forward on its zero-emission goals,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “We look forward to working with Edmonton Transit Service on deploying our buses and creating a more sustainable transit system.”

Proterra has put its vehicles through the ringer with extensive performance and range testing in long and cold winter climates, in addition to the deployed fleets it supports in Massachusetts and Park City, Utah. Testing shows that they hold up well, which Proterra attributes to the active thermal management of the vehicle batteries and the proprietary state-of-charge algorithms it employs to ensure a long life for its batteries.

Source: Proterra











Appreciate CleanTechnica’s originality? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica member, supporter, or ambassador — or a patron on Patreon.

Sign up for our free daily newsletter or weekly newsletter to never miss a story.

Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest Cleantech Talk Episode