Electric buses have been spotted around North America and soon there will be a few more coming to the United States.
New Flyer of America, a globally-leading bus manufacturer, announced on Tuesday that Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) of Knoxville, Tennessee has offered the company a contract for 12 zero-emission transit buses, according to a press release.
The five-year deal also includes purchase options of up to another 13 buses, which can be either thirty-five or forty feet long.
KAT completes a total of 3 million passenger trips per year, signaling a major need to move to electric buses. It purchased its first battery-electric bus from New Flyer in December 2019, and was working towards sustainable transportation even before that, having over 30% hybrids within its current fleet.
Knoxville trying for electric buses in city's attempt to be greener https://t.co/AINFenOFui via @knoxnews @DawnDistler @MayorRogero @kat_bus #AllElectric #KATGoesThere ? pic.twitter.com/wIIvnT8xAi
— Proterra Inc. (@Proterra_Inc) December 14, 2017
Chris Stoddart, New Flyer President, said, “This contract includes charging infrastructure encompassing six depot chargers, one portable trailer-mounted charger, and design-build support from New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions, including installation services, software and software services, training, warranties, and commissioning.”
Stoddart continued, “Working with KAT on a comprehensive mobility solution including both buses and infrastructure will ensure an optimized approach to the design and deployment of zero-emission mobility.”
While New Flyer has been around for several decades, it’s presence will likely increase around the US with the move to zero-emission vehicles. And with the amount buses drive everyday, the difference in environmental impact will be huge.
Contributing Writer at TeslaNorth.com from California’s southeast Bay Area. Covers electric vehicles, space exploration, and all things tech. Loves a good cup of coffee, live music and puppies. Buying a Tesla? Click here to get 1,000 free Supercharging miles.