Silicon Valley start-up creates long-range electric bus
A relatively young US company, Proterra, unveiled a new model, the E2, in its line-up of zero-emission buses this week – one which can travel up to 960km non-stop.
Proterra has stated this as a figure achieved under test conditions and says the nominal travel range for a single charge is 194 to 350 miles, or 310 to 560km.
In a press release, Proterra says this range positions the E2 to be capable of servicing almost every transport route in the US on a single charge per day.
This would mean lower costs in terms of infrastructure, and no emissions produced.
“Compelled by a total cost of ownership significantly lower than fossil fuel-based alternatives, transit agencies across the US agree that diesel’s dominance is waning, giving way to the economic and environmental benefits of battery-electric mass transportation,” the Proterra press release says.
The company has quoted transit authorities praising Proterra’s work, with some agencies having owned Proterra buses for several years.
“Since our first EV bus procurement with Proterra in 2010, we knew that zero-emission buses were the future of mass transit,” says a representative of Proterra’s first customer – Foothill Transit in California.
“Now, with the new Catalyst E2, this vision is a reality.”
Since the company was founded just over a decade ago, Proterra has slowly made its way to becoming a company well known in its immediate circles as being the innovator in its field.