Electric bus manufacturer Proterra announced that transit agency SporTran is rolling out Louisiana’s first fleet of zero-emission, battery-electric transit buses in Shreveport.

The five Proterra 40′ Catalyst E2 buses will go into service this month and serve Louisiana’s third-largest city. According to Proterra, this milestone marks the combined commitment and foresight of SporTran and Shreveport in being the first city in the state to purchase battery-electric buses, paving the way for other public transit agencies to follow suit and recognize the economic, environmental and operations benefits. To mark this achievement, SporTran, Proterra and senior government officials came together on Wednesday with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards to commemorate the deployment of the new electric buses and the debut of new transit stations and infrastructure.

“In the wake of a devastating hurricane season for surrounding communities, we’re reminded by our long-term mission to sustainably serve Shreveport and our neighbors,” said Dinero Washington, CEO at SporTran. “This means providing reliable and safe transit for all. It also means providing innovative and cost-saving solutions that ensure clean, reliable transit today and for years to come. We’re proud to partner with Proterra and introduce these new zero-emission buses into our fleet.”

In 2016, SporTran won a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No-Emission Vehicle Deployment Grant, which funded the five electric buses, three depot chargers and an on-route fast charger. By replacing its diesel buses, SporTran estimates that the new Proterra Catalyst buses will save more than $2.2 million on maintenance and fuel over the lifetime of the five vehicles. As a result, SporTran will re-invest the savings into Shreveport’s transportation system with the goal of improving bus routes, technology and rider experience.

According to Proterra, its 40′ Catalyst E2 series gets 22 MPGe, while conventional diesel buses average 3.86 MPG. These buses will utilize Combined Charged Standard (CCS) plug-in DC fast chargers, enabling multiple types and brands of EV cars, trucks and buses to potentially share the same charging equipment and lower infrastructure costs for all electric vehicles.

“We are proud to partner with SporTran, an innovative transit agency that continues to raise the transit bar for its passengers and community alike. We look forward to helping SporTran speed into a cleaner, healthier future for all, by providing a model for zero-emission transit,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra.

Photo courtesy of Proterra’s Twitter account