Tag Archives: buses

Posted by Nicole Deck

City of Greensboro Unveils its First Electric Buses

Last week, the City of Greensboro unveiled its first electric buses during a grand opening in Greensboro, NC. Greensboro is officially the first City in North Carolina to use electric buses in its transit system.

The City will have 10 buses in operation in the coming weeks, and plans to have another three to six more buses by the end of the year, bringing the total to 16, or 30 percent of the entire fleet, according to Spectrum News.

According to Rhino Times, this means Greensboro will have the second largest bus fleet on the East Coast behind Philadelphia.

N.C. Department of Transportation Chairman Mike Fox, Proterra CEO Ryan Popple, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper were in attendance at the Greensboro unveiling last week.

“This is smarter, this is the way of the future and this is a way for us to make sure we create better paying jobs in North Carolina and become healthier and cleaner while we’re doing it,” Governor Roy Cooper said.

The rechargeable electric Proterra buses are more efficient and more environmentally friendly.

They are 40-foot and powered by batteries that can provide up to 200 miles of transportation before needing a recharge, according to Spectrum News.

The buses are also expected to cost less in both operational and maintenance expenses than a traditional bus, according to WFMY News. It’s estimated that Greensboro will save more than $350,000 per bus per year.

The City said it will take the cost savings from the electric buses and expand service, eventually replacing the entire fleet, according to Spectrum News.

Learn more about the City of Greensboro and the Greensboro Transit Authority on their website here.

2018 (DERA) School Bus Rebate Program will offer over $9M

School buses travel over four billion miles each year, providing the safest transportation to and from school for more than 25 million American children every day, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. However, diesel exhaust from these buses has a negative impact on human health, especially for children, who have a faster breathing rate than adults and whose lungs are not yet fully developed.

The 2018 School Bus Rebate Program will offer over $9 million to public and private fleet owners for the replacement of old diesel school buses with new buses certified to EPA’s cleanest emission standards. EPA will award selected applicants $15,000-20,000 per bus for scrapping and replacing old buses.

Eligible Entities

• Regional, state, or tribal agency that has jurisdiction over transportation and air quality, including school districts and municipalities
• Private entities that operate school buses under a contract with an entity listed above
• Fleets with up to 100 school buses may submit one application listing up to 10 buses for scrappage and replacement
• Fleets with more than 100 school buses may submit up to two rebate applications, each listing up to 10 different buses for scrappage and replacement

Eligible Old School Buses to be Replaced

• Used to transport 10+ pre-primary, primary, or secondary school students to school or homes
• Driven 10k or more miles over the last 12 months or in use 3+ days/week during the school year
• Owned by applicant without any active liens
• Class 3-8 diesel-powered buses [greater than 10,000 lb Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)]
• Buses powered by 2006 or older model year engines must be replaced with buses powered by a 2017 or newer model year engine
• Engine and chassis must be scrapped before receiving rebate payment

Information from US Environmental Protection Agency website

Learn more about the rebate program, your eligibility, requirements and deadlines by going to https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-rebates.

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