STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-January 25, 2021-Steamboat Springs Transit (SST) will be putting a Proterra battery/electric bus through its paces as part of demonstration for a possible new renewable energy vehicle for the transit fleet.
“We’re excited to put the latest all-battery electric bus model to the test since much has changed from when we first drove an EV version five years ago,” commented Transit Manager Jonathan Flint. “We’re very interested in seeing how this new model performs on all our routes as well as its battery life in real-world, challenging mountain conditions.”
During the site visit and demonstration, SST will host a virtual meeting at 5pm on Thursday, January 28, to discuss an overview of battery/electric buses, infrastructure and funding/grant opportunities.
SST staff will also look at the mechanical and operational systems of the EV Bus, conduct maneuverability tests and then hit the open road to understand acceleration, braking and climbing capabilities. Testing will be conducted on several local routes as well as the regional transit line over two days, Feb 1-2, 2021.
“Our team is ecstatic to get a first-had view of the latest EV version and if it would be a positive fit, both under the hood and over the road, for our transit system,” continued Flint. “We urge the public to join us for the virtual meeting and share their thoughts on whether SST should plug into something like this.”
Governor Polis has put forward the goal of having 1,000 battery/electric buses by 2030 and the expectation that 100% of heavy-duty transit buses must be battery/electric by 2050. This demo/test is being conducted with this goal in mind. SST has been moving toward alternative vehicles and currently features 11 hybrid buses in the transit fleet and plans to purchase additional renewable vehicles in the next few years.
Purpose-built to be electric, the Proterra ZX5 bus features a 35-foot and 40-foot bus with a maximum range of 240 miles and 329 mile per charge, seating capacity of 29 or 40 and 25.1MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent) and 23.5MPGe respectively. Proterra has helped more than 100 public transit customers across 43 states, including four in Colorado (Eagle, Avon, Summit & Breckenridge), implement battery-electric buses and charging infrastructure, powering the shift to 100% electric fleets.
During a typical year, SST logs more than 620,000 annual road miles from a pool of 40 full-time and seasonal drivers. The transit system utilizes 15 transit buses, four regional buses and one curb-to-curb paratransit shuttle to provide service to residents and guests.
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Contact
Jonathan Flint, Transit Manager, 970.879.3717 or email
Tyler Kern, Operations Manager, 970.879.3717 or email
Michael Lane, Communications Manager, 970.871.8220 or email