Proterra., Inc

This is an interim report for an ongoing project. The report summarizes the experience and early results from an electric fuel cell bus demonstration funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. A team led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment and Proterra designed and developed an entirely new hybrid electric fuel cell bus. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory was tasked by FTA to evaluate the bus in service. This report documents the early development and implementation of the bus and includes a summary of the performance results at the first demonstration site—Columbia, South Carolina.

The objective of the overall research effort is to develop and demonstrate a battery dominant fuel cell bus, and to move the industry closer to commercialization of electric fuel cell buses. The objective of the report is to disseminate information about the independent evaluation conducted by NREL of the subject vehicle.

During the six-month demonstration period in Columbia, SC, the bus accumulated 2,947 miles and used 399.7 kg of hydrogen for an average fuel economy of 7.37 miles/kg, which equates to 8.33 miles per diesel gallon equivalent (DGE). As a result of the research conducted so far, a number of fuel cell bus components were identified for replacement or upgrade to ensure that the vehicle will meet performance objectives for the next phase of the demonstration. These components include the transmission, DC-DC converter, and battery management system. Once the modifications are complete, the vehicle will be shipped to Austin, Texas, for a one-year demonstration.

This project has helped to introduce a new bus manufacturer, and new electric bus design, to the US market. The lessons learned from this project have been incorporated into Proterra electric buses being procured in several cities across the country. Moreover, by documenting the early development, implementation, and performance of Proterra’s newly developed hybrid electric fuel cell bus, the research results contribute to the larger endeavor of facilitating the development of electric drive bus technology.

This research project is led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment. The report was written and the evaluation conducted by the National Renewable Energy Lab. For more information, contact Sean Ricketson, FTA Research Manager, at 202-366-6678, sean.ricketson@dot.gov. All research reports can be found at www.fta.dot.gov/research

Innovation in Buses: What’s Trending, What’s New?

May 05, 2012

What’s new with buses? In the pages of this issue, you’ll find an array of stories discussing just that.

For example, smartphones play a pivotal role, such as using QR codes for high-tech bus stop signage. Texting (the safe kind, as in sending information to the police when you can’t make a phone call) is also pivotal. Sustainability figures prominently with so many agencies, including Cincinnati Metro’s green decisions about more efficient buses and Long Beach Transit’s (LBT) retrofit of existing facilities. Innovation can take other guises, including the efforts by Phoenix’s Valley Metro and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority to integrate specialized taxis into the effort to provide needed rides.

What else is on everyone’s mind, other than passage of a surface transportation authorization bill?

There’s state of good repair, with agencies working to maintain their fleets and facilities, and asset management, with systems doing their utmost to maximize the life cycle of their equipment, vehicles, and structures.

And what’s trending? Electric buses, compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling, engines integrating Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards . . . and much more.

Here’s a quick look at just some of what constitutes what’s “new and exciting” with buses in 2012.

To begin with, there are all-electric buses, for which more and more public transit systems are putting out requests for proposal (RFP).

VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio is ahead of that effort, having already purchased its new buses and awaiting their arrival.

“VIA is excited to bring completely emissions-free transit service to San Antonio,” said Keith T. Parker, president and CEO. “Later this year we will have three buses that are powered solely by batteries recharged with 100 percent wind-generated electricity. Operating these buses within the central business district emphasizes our commitment to reducing local air pollution. Because these buses will have zero emissions, they offer the cleanest operating technology from the source to the road of any buses we know of in the world, and further our role of introducing green transit technologies to the Alamo City.”

Also, Foothill Transit in West Covina, CA, made history in September 2010 when it implemented the heavy-duty, all-electric, zero-emission Ecoliner on its 291 Line. It now has an RFP out for nine more electric buses, with the goal of making that route an all-electric one.

“It’s not that we’re trying to be sustainable from scratch,” said spokesperson Felicia Friesema, “but we’re trying to be more sustainable and environmentally positive by exploring advanced vehicle technologies that improve our air quality. Making our vehicles more efficient only enhances that even further.”

There’s CNG fueling. Many public transit agencies are making the transition to this fuel, which in turn necessitates a comprehensive change in their fueling infrastructure. Our host, LBT, is just one of the agencies making this shift!

Trillium USA designs, builds, and operates CNG facilities for public and private fleets. Senior Business Developer- Transit Jennifer de Tapia noted that CNG “has a lot of momentum right now.” She cited the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) in Aspen, CO, which has begun a pilot project to become the first system to use CNG in a high-altitude, rural Bus Rapid Transit application.

“Clearly it’s the price differential vs. diesel that’s moving the market right now in such a big way,” de Tapia said. “For agencies having a tough time stretching their operating dollars, they are finding it’s a great way to save on their fuel budget.” But it’s not all about money, she added: “It’s domestic, so it’s a great source of jobs for the American economy. And there are environmental benefits as well.”

Dan Blankenship, RFTA’s CEO, did cite money as the primary motive behind his agency’s shift. “The main reason is we’ll be paying about a $1 million more for diesel fuel this year than we did in 2009—and we’re running fewer miles,” he explained. “In terms of our long-term sustainability, we need to move to a fuel that is less expensive now and is in abundant domestic supply.”

Right up there with cost savings, however, are two other critically important elements. “When you look at the need for the U.S. to become energy independent so that more jobs can be created here—and we can reduce some of our investment in national defense that is targeted that in securing the shipping lanes from the Middle East—it just makes more sense to move to CNG as a means of keeping more American dollars in America,” he said.

Daimler Buses’ closing down of Orion bus production in the U.S. and Canada will bring about a significant change in the marketplace. [See related story on p. 1.] What that means relative to price and market share are currently open questions.

Buy America continues to be an issue with those who make and buy buses, as FTA and Congress want to increase domestic content for domestic jobs. This begs the following questions: What can bus manufacturers do with their existing supply chains? Can they find new suppliers in the U.S.? And what is the cost of verifying these new suppliers? What happens to the industry with that change? These and other answers will continue to unfold in the months ahead.

Starting in the mid 1990s, EPA, in its objective to clean our air, focused on exhaust from cars and buses. “We’ve been reducing oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter since then,” said Tom Hodek, general manager, North America Bus Business, Cummins, “and now we’re down to nearly zero.”

Going forward, EPA has set a 2013 deadline for a vehicle to continue to meet emission standards through its useful life, which will require onboard diagnostics in engines. “This means that we’re going to have better troubleshooting capabilities with a lot more sensors, and we’re going to reassure that the emission levels remain where they’re supposed to be,” said Hodek. Additionally, EPA’s 2014 requirement is to continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or carbon dioxide.

Cummins will meet both requirements in 2013. “Our business is engines and their subsystems,” Hodek said, “and emission regulations are one of the key elements of our business.” Rather than make one launch each year, Cummins accelerated its efforts to pull the 2014 EPA regulations forward. “Not only are we cleaning the air,” he said, “we’re also improving fuel economy, because as you reduce CO2, you improve MPG [miles per gallon]. They are directly linked.”

What happens to a public transit rider who might be in a difficult or frightening situation and “See Something/ Say Something” just won’t work? Chief James Spiller of Dallas Area Rapid Transit(DART), working with information technology and media relations staff, came up with a way someone could text for help.

The text number, 41411, is the same one used by DART customers to find the next departure and arrival times for buses and trains at their stop or station. The difference with the police text service is that customers must start the message with the keyword DARTpolice—followed by 41411—to ensure it is delivered to a DART Police dispatcher.

“With the way people use phones these days, what we were looking for was a way to empower our customers, and you see people texting all the time,” said Spiller. Those involved at DART thought it would work, and “lo and behold, we put it into operation April 6 and we’re having great results with it. It’s not being abused—we get 7-10 texts a week and most of those are legitimate. We haven’t had any problems so far.”

He provided the example of someone panhandling on the train. “We got a text with specs, and we responded back that an officer would be on the next stop.” The response? “‘The officer is on the train, and the person has been removed.’”

Currently, nearly all buses operated byMiami-Dade Transit (MDT) are equipped with the fully enclosed Bus Operator compartment door. “This provides an extra layer of security for our bus operators without hindering their personal interaction with patrons,” said Eric J. Muntan, chief, MDT Office of Safety and Security, who termed it “an amazing property that we put into our bus system.”

As part of a Transit CooperativeResearch Program (TCRP) project, U.S. representatives traveled to Europe and observed these doors on public transit vehicles there. A former MDT director implemented this concept in late 1997, with numerous engineering modifications made to the original design. In 2003, MDT installed the new revised Bus Operator compartment door in all its buses and new bus purchases.

Not only have bus operators and riders accepted the enclosure, but the number of assaults on operators has steadily declined. When asked if this effort could be replicated industry-wide, Muntan said: “We feel that this would greatly enhance the security of bus operators throughout the nation in other agencies.”

James Dougherty, chief safety officerfor the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, called the enclosures “an advantage.” He continued: “They provide protection to operators from assaults and escalating assaults; it’s a lot more difficult to punch through it.”

Dougherty noted that there is a perceived negative side to these doors in that an operator does not have a viable alternative exit. “I believe, however, that the benefits to the operators outweigh the risks,” he said.

Proterra founder to discuss innovative bus technology at VTA’s 2012 Annual Conference & Bus Expo

May 04, 2012

Greenville, S.C. | May 4, 2012 – Proterra, maker of the world’s first fast-charge battery-electric, transit bus will participate in the 2012 Virginia Transit Association Annual Conference and Bus Expo. VTA is a coalition of transit professionals from public and private organizations who know that public transportation is important to the individual mobility, a clean environment, and livable communities. This annual event provides an opportunity to see new products and services, discuss current issues in the transit industry, and network with other transit and affiliated industry professionals. The conference will be held at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, McLean, Virginia on May 17-18.

Proterra founder Dale Hill will participate in a roundtable session to discuss next year’s bus technology. Entitled “Up & Coming Bus Enhancements/Innovations,” this peer exchange is scheduled for Friday, May 18^th from 8:30 – 10:30am EST.

“Proterra envisions a world where up and coming bus innovations continue to gain acceptance in the bus industry. As transit agencies continue to face changing regulations and rising operating costs – specifically those around fossil fuels – we believe new technologies, particularly battery-electric fast charge buses provide the best solution” said Hill. “Proterra’s EcoRide bus not only provides the best total cost of ownership in the industry, it also drastically reduces carbon emissions and allows transit agencies to have a more predictable operating environment.”

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

For more information or questions, please contact:
Megan E. Finnern
Marketing Communications Coordinator
mefinnern@proterra.com

Austin, Texas, becomes home for new hydrogen-powered bus

May 03, 2012

hydrogenfueltoday.com | by Bret Williams

The city of Austin, Texas, has received a new hydrogen-powered bus this week, courtesy of the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), an alternative energy transportation organization based in North Carolina. The bus had previously operated in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2010. Proterra, a manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells and large public transportation vehicles, provided the bus to CTE. The company believes that hydrogen fuel will play a significant role in the future of public transit in the U.S.

Texas showing more interest in hydrogen fuel

Texas has begun showing more interest in alternative energy recently. The state has had a long history with wind energy, but hydrogen fuel is beginning to attract more attention from policymakers. In Austin, the alternative energy is becoming famous for its uses in public transportation. The CTE has been operating hydrogen-powered buses for several years and believes that Austin will make good use of the Proterra bus.

Proterra bus to serve as transportation for Austin residents

The bus will serve as transportation for Austin residents and will transport them to various locations around the city. The CTE expects that the bus will help lower the cost of energy in Austin, as the vehicle does not rely on gasoline or diesel. A private hydrogen fuel station will be used to supply the vehicle with enough energy to keep it running. According to Proterra, the fuel cell used to power the bus can be fueled completely in under ten minutes and will provide enough energy to keep the vehicle running for several hours.

University of Texas to collect information of the bus’ performance

Hydrogen-powered transportation is gaining momentum throughout the U.S., and this trend is especially apparent in the public transportation sector. In an effort to catalogue the impact the hydrogen-powered bus will have on the city of Austin, the University of Texas’ Center for Electromechanics will be collecting data on the vehicle’s performance and how its presence is affecting the city’s economy. This data will be sent to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where it will be analyzed further.

Proterra Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Arrives in Austin, Texas

May 02, 2012

Proterra Sponsors 2012 Leadership APTA Alumni Dinner

April 30, 2012

Greenville, S.C. | April 30, 2012 – Proterra, maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus will sponsor the 2012 Leadership APTA Alumni Dinner at this year’s Bus and Paratransit Conference in Long Beach, California. Hosted by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the conference brings together individuals from all areas of the transit industry.

Proterra business development officer Joshua Goldman was part of the 2011 Leadership APTA class. He will be giving a short presentation on EV buses during the Alternative Fuel and Propulsion Technologies: From Procurement Planning to Bus Maintenance Facility Design Session on Monday, May 7th, 2:15-3:45 p.m. Proterra will also participate as an exhibitor in the Products & Services Showcase, Tuesday, May 8^th, 10:30-2:00pm. Stop by booth #309 to meet the company’s EV experts and learn more about Proterra and its technology.

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra’s Goldman featured in APTA Member Profile

April 20, 2012

Greenville, S.C. | April 20, 2012 – Proterra, maker of the EcoRide fast-charge, battery-electric bus, was excited to have its Director of Business Development Joshua Goldman featured in the April 20, 2012 edition of Passenger Transport. Goldman was asked to share his experience in the transit industry in Passenger Transport's "APTA Member Profile." This is one of two new recurring columns that are helping to broaden the outreach of the association, part of APTA President & CEO Michael P. Melaniphy's vision. The other column introduces readers to APTA staff.

When asked what he liked most about his job, Goldman responded: "I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of facilitating public-private partnerships. I’ve also had the chance to demonstrate locally, nationally, and internationally the revolutionary products I work with. I’ve been able to work on truly “industry-changing” projects, not only seeing change but being a part of it."

Along with the Q&A, APTA (the American Public Transportation Association) included a short video where Goldman shares his enthusiasm for public transporation. This video was filmed at Foothill Transit in Pomona California, where three EcoRide buses have been in service for approximately 18 months.

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. Its ground-up designs have led to the EcoRide, the world’s first full-size, 10-minute charge transit bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra Continues to Grow, Expands Manufacturing Facility

April 12, 2012

Greenville, S.C. | April 12, 2012 – Proterra Inc, producer of the world’s first fast-charge battery-electric bus, is pleased to announce continued growth during the first quarter of 2012.

Proterra completed the expansion of its Greenville, S.C. production facility in January. Prior to this, the maximum capacity was less than 100 buses per year. With the expansion, Proterra is now capable of producing up to 400 buses per year with room for further expansion into the 220,000 square-foot facility.

Not only did the company expand its manufacturing capacity, Proterra Associates also worked closely with General Motors – a relationship made possible in collaboration with investor GM Ventures – to utilize lean manufacturing techniques and create a more effective and efficient plant layout.

“By focusing on lean manufacturing processes, Proterra is pushing more jobs out to the supply chain, effectively creating jobs beyond our own organization,” said Chief Executive Officer David Bennett. “We’ve worked diligently to source materials and services locally. In fact, we’ve gone from zero to approximately 75 South Carolina suppliers and vendors since our transition to Greenville in 2010.”

Beyond the physical expansion, Proterra has hired 22 new Associates since January 1^st, 2012. These employees bring experience to all areas of the organization from accounting to manufacturing to engineering. Proterra continues to look for talented individuals who want to ‘electrify’ their careers.

When asked what the future holds for Proterra during a recent interview, Chief Financial Officer Jack McFarland summed things up very concisely stating, “The future for us is very bright.”

Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. For more information on Proterra, its technology, and career opportunities please visit: www.proterra.com

For more information or questions, please contact:
Megan E. Finnern
Marketing Communications Coordinator
864-438-0014
mefinnern@proterra.com

Proterra to attend EVS26

April 06, 2012

Greenville, S.C. | April 6, 2012 – Proterra, maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus will attend the 26^thInternational Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) in Los Angeles, California, May 6-9, 2012. According to the organizers, “Great Minds Think Electric.” This event focuses on all aspects of the electric vehicle industry – electric cars, electric vehicles, charging and refueling, auto marketing, environmental policy and transportation policy.

“We firmly believe that electric vehicles provide a long-term solution to many of the challenges faced by bus fleet operators” said Director of Business Development Joshua Goldman. “Competition and collaboration are tremendous drivers to continually move EV technology forward. This conference provides opportunities to explore both.”

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra to exhibit and present at 2012 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference

April 03, 2012

Greenville, S.C. | April 3, 2012 – Proterra, maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus will take part in the 2012 Bus & Paratransit Conferencehosted by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Topics range from policy and planning to today’s operating environment to technology. The conference takes place May 6-9, 2012 in Long Beach, California and boasts over 30 educational sessions, workshops, presentations, special events and tours.

Proterra business development officer Joshua Goldman will be giving a short presentation on EV buses and participating as a moderator for the session Alternative Fuel and Propulsion Technologies: From Procurement Planning to Bus Maintenance Facility Design, Monday, May 7th, 2:15-3:45 p.m. Goldman also serves as a current Vice Chair for APTA’s Clean Propulsion Committee. He will be giving a report during the committee’s meeting on Monday, May 7^th, 4:00-5:00 p.m. during the conference.

“Alternative-fuel vehicles and the technology that drives them are increasingly important as the transportation industry moves towards cleaner, more cost-effective solutions” said Goldman. “I’m honored to participate on this panel and to provide an overview of EV buses. Proterra’s EcoRide can provide a true zero-emission solution, while drastically reducing operating costs.”

Goldman will be joined at the conference by Judy Dennis, Proterra’s new Regional Sales Manager, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ian Shackleton. Proterra will participate as an exhibitor in the Products & Services Showcase, Tuesday, May 8^th, 10:30-2:00pm. Stop by booth #309 to meet the company’s EV experts and learn more about Proterra and its technology.

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra Future-Proofs Public Transportation

April 02, 2012

Proterra Welcomes New Regional Sales Manager

March 30, 2012

Proterra,the leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, is pleased to welcome Judy Dennis as its new Regional Sales Manager.

Dennis joins Proterra with almost 10 years in the transit industry and 20 years of sales experience. Most recently she worked at ISE Corporation in San Diego, California. She has a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State College of Denver.

As Regional Sales Manager, Dennis will work closely with clients and prospects to grow market share, deliver a high level of satisfaction and cultivate lasting customer relationships.

Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra Welcomes New VP of Engineering

March 27, 2012

Greenville, S.C. | March 27, 2012 – Proterra,the leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, is pleased to announce John Sleconich recently joined the organization as its new vice president of engineering.

“I am so looking forward to taking on this exciting new challenge. Proterra has the opportunity to be a real game changer in the transit industry and I want to be part of the journey” said Sleconich. “After many years in the aerospace industry, I’m thrilled to utilize my knowledge to help fuel the next big innovation in transportation.”

Sleconich joins Proterra with over 25 years’ experience at two of the world’s foremost aerospace companies. Most recently, he served as Director of Systems Engineering for Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas.

In his new role at Proterra, Sleconich will take responsibility for new product development, compliance, technical publications, quality, and product safety. He will also oversee engineering product support for all vehicles in production and in service. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, John holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in both Business Economics and Electrical Engineering.

“I intend to lead Proterra’s engineering team to realize its full potential” said Sleconich. “With hard work and determination, we will lead the industry in innovation and design.”

Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra Introduces New VP of Sales and Marketing

March 22, 2012

Greenville, S.C. | March 22, 2012 – Proterra,the leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Shackleton as its new vice president of sales and marketing.

“I am joining Proterra at a very exciting time for the organization,” said Shackleton. “Having already introduced innovative, game-changing technology to the transit world, Proterra is now ready to take the next step and ramp up production and sales in 2012. With increasingly stringent emissions standards and growing demand to reduce operating costs, Proterra provides a solution that can meet the ever evolving needs of transit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.”

Shackleton joins Proterra with over 20 years of experience in the bus and trucking industry. Prior to joining Proterra, Shackleton spent 22 years at Navistar. He earned his degree in Motive Power Diesel Technology from Fanshawe College in London, Ontario and began his career in Canada – where he worked until transferring to the U.S. in 1998. His most recent role at Navistar was VP Global Bus Sales at IC Bus LLC.

As Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Shackleton will lead Proterra’s sales and marketing teams to aggressively increase sales and grow market share throughout the United States and Canada. Proterra’s EcoRide is the world’s first battery electric bus that can charge in under 10 minutes, replacing conventional diesel buses on a one-for-one basis operating 24/7.

Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Conversations: David Bennett, CEO of Proterra

March 21, 2012

UpstateBizSC:
What is the origin of Proterra?

David Bennett:
Dale Hill, who is still with the company in a leadership role, is the founder of the company. After launching the first and most successful fleet of alternative-fuel buses in the 1990s – the Denver 16th Street Mall buses – Dale formed Proterra and applied for federal funding to develop a future concept for public transportation, a need expressed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Proterra's vision was to design and manufacture world-class, advanced technology, heavy-duty vehicles powered solely by clean domestic fuels.

UpstateBizSC:
What is Proterra's core business?

David Bennett:
Our core business is the production of commercial vehicles, buses, for use in city transit. The first bus that the company built, a zero-emission fuel-cell vehicle, is here on site at our Greenville, SC location and is on its second or third refurbishment. Today, we are focused on making our fast charge, EcoRide™ BE35 battery electric bus.

UpstateBizSC:
Who are your customers?

David Bennett:
Most of our customers are transit authorities in cities and towns. Our customers are in Pomona, California in the Los Angeles basin, San Antonio, Texas, and Tallahassee, Florida. We are working with the South Carolina Department of Transportation and city officials to finalize procurement with the City of Seneca here in South Carolina. Clemson Area Transit will operate these buses. We also have a fuel-cell vehicle in Burbank, California and another going to Austin, Texas.

UpstateBizSC:
How many buses do you currently make a year?

David Bennett:
We are right at the point where we are transitioning from prototype to low rate production. We will deliver over twenty vehicles this year and then have much loftier production targets the year after that.

UpstateBizSC:
Outline the growth of the company.

David Bennett:
We have grown from 30 to over 100 employees since moving to Greenville in June 2010. Most of the employees are based here in South Carolina, but some are located in Colorado, Texas, and California. We hope to grow our revenue ten times this year.

UpstateBizSC:
Why did Proterra move from Colorado to South Carolina?

David Bennett:
In the early stages of the company, Dale Hill connected with a few individuals in South Carolina and together they started exploring the possibility of moving our production facility to South Carolina. The original plan was for just production to move here, but eventually it made more sense to move everyone to South Carolina including engineering and administration. Today, over 90% of our employees are in Greenville.

I became CEO in October of 2011, after the decision was made to move to Greenville. I know that great support from the Upstate business and political community made it easy for us to locate here. When you combine that with Clemson University's local automotive technology initiative (CU-ICAR) and the talent base that we have here in the automotive field, Greenville is a perfect home for Proterra. Proximity to CU-ICAR also offers us tremendous research and development resources. There are a couple of CU-ICAR people involved directly with projects here at Proterra.

UpstateBizSC:
What is different about a Proterra bus?

David Bennett:
Buses have been built in the same way for 40-50 years – basically, big square boxes that run on either diesel or compressed natural gas (CNG ). Some advances have been made with hybrid technology, but buses are still mostly based on fossil fuels. They are noisy, dirty, and not very contemporary in their design. A Proterra bus runs on electricity, has zero emissions, is quiet and looks more like the future than the past .

Our vehicles are extremely quiet, so there is clear savings around noise pollution. In a residential neighborhood at 6:00 am in the morning, that can make a huge difference for our customers.

The vehicle has zero emissions. Purists point out that our carbon footprint depends on the form of generation the local electrical grid is using – coal, nuclear, hydroelectric or renewables. The fact is that because of the highly efficient operation of our vehicle, even using 100% coal, the EcoRide™ will result in less carbon emissions from well to wheel than any other bus. The true promise of our bus is that when powered by electricity from 100% renewable resources it generates no carbon emissions and requires no imported oil – a big benefit to national security. In contrast, if you buy a diesel or natural gas bus, you will always have carbon emissions from non-renewable energy sources and in the case of diesel and diesel hybrid, remain tethered to mid-east oil.

UpstateBizSC:
Transit vehicles are big capital purchases and can range from $300,000 to $1M. Often new green technologies are more expensive than traditional ones. Are Proterra buses more expensive? Why would a customer pay more for one of your buses?

David Bennett:
No one is going buy green just because it is green. There has to be a value proposition in your business model. Ours is around the total cost of ownership over the life of the vehicle.

Today, the price point of a hybrid or natural gas vehicle is about 20-30% less expensive than our vehicle. Our customers provide a level of service in the community often at a fixed cost. Proterra needs to help its customers lower their operating costs so they can see the payback for this more expensive vehicle. We combine the electricity rate with the number of kilowatts per mile, and we turn that into how much it costs per mile to operate the vehicle. Compared to diesel powered vehicles, we are seeing a 50-70% reduction in the cost to operate the vehicle. That kind of savings gets clear attention! As a point of comparison, a hybrid car might have a 4-7% reduction in costs to operate versus a standard car.

Every regional or city transit authority has different objectives, but these first customers will help generate hard facts about the buses. We want to make sure that our first customers, who have taken a risk with us and purchased one of our buses, are happy in terms of the reliability of the buses and their ability to lower operating costs.

Our second objective would be to then drive up adoption up by making our overall value proposition easier for our customers. We are putting financing options in place. We are also attracting partners who will work with us to drive down the cost of the technology so we can close that price gap as we drive the volume up with more customers.

UpstateBizSC:
The original buses had fuel cells. Are they still part of the equation for powering the vehicles?

David Bennett:
Technology is improving in this area, so we are working on a second generation hydrogen fuel cell that will deliver twice the power in the same space than what was in our original vehicle four years ago. The fuel cells that you see in transit vehicles tend be hydrogen fuel cells. We have five fuel-cell buses – three operating and two for future delivery which are currently in the design phase. These fuel-cell buses have a few more design and technology hurdles to overcome compared to battery-electric vehicles.

UpstateBizSC:
How do you overcome some of the roadblocks that others have encountered coming up with a viable electric vehicle?

David Bennett:
Over time, the electrical grid has proven to be more efficient and stable in terms of cost of energy than petroleum based fuels. The price of electricity over the past thirty years has increased on average 2.4% per year. In comparison, petroleum based fuels have gone up 8-10% every year. Operating costs are getting much tighter around transit, so electricity makes a great deal of sense.

One roadblock to electrical is the amount of time it takes to power the vehicle. We have overcome that with an innovative way of charging the vehicle in 10 minutes or less - a typical layover time for a vehicle. Our battery management system software optimizes the amount of energy that goes into the vehicle. We are able to quickly put in an incredible amount of energy in the vehicle, operate for one hour to three hours in cities where there are fixed routes or drive cycles, and do that for 20 – 22 hours per day. The range of our buses is approximately 30 miles; depending on the bus route, a charged bus can last between one to three hours.

A second obstacle has been battery life. Another difference with our vehicles is how we maximize battery life through the use of composites materials such as carbon fiber and Kevlar to make the whole vehicle much lighter than a traditional bus.

Lastly, buses need an efficient way to repower. We have come up with an innovative and very cool design for the charge station itself, and have several patents in this area.

UpstateBizSC:
The way Proterra recharges the bus looks really cool, with an arm-like thing that hooks up to the top of the bus in the charging station.

David Bennett:
The charging system that you see coming down over top of the vehicle is all about making it simple, reliable and safe for the driver. Safety with a transit vehicle is a key priority.

UpstateBizSC:
Where do you source your inputs for the manufacturing of the bus?

David Bennett:
If you use public funds for a public service, it is important to show that you are sourcing domestically and thereby creating jobs. The United States is on the leading edge of these new technologies that we are incorporating into our vehicles, so it is relatively easy to source domestically. 85% or more of our materials come from the United States; that is important to us. About 30% of our inputs come from South Carolina itself where we source goods and services from seventy-five suppliers. The shell of the bus is manufactured right here in South Carolina.

UpstateBizSC:
How important is design to the success of the product?

David Bennett:
Design is a critical part of the buses. We are staying with composite materials because of the flexibility they offer in terms of the design. The composite materials that we use also provide better safety in terms of crash-resistance and insulation from the electricity around running a battery-electric vehicle.

We tried to stay away from the industry conventional length for a bus. We have a 35-foot vehicle which is five feet shorter than you might see with a traditional one, yet because of the space saving innovations that we have come up with, we still seat the same number of passengers. We don't have a large engine compartment that takes up a considerable portion of the vehicle, for example.

The design of the bus has also allowed for some innovations in terms of safety. We install four wheel disc brakes and independent front suspension on our buses, something you might expect to see on a car. The industry standard is drum brakes and rigid suspension.

UpstateBizSC:
What challenges are you facing?

David Bennett:
Finding talent when you are a startup entrepreneurial company is key, and one of our challenges is finding battery engineers. This is not a problem that is confined to the local market; there is a global shortage of battery engineers.

UpstateBizSC:
What is the ownership of the company?

David Bennett:
We are privately owned. Our lead investors are Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, General Motors Ventures and Mitsui & Co Global Investment, Inc. out of Japan and we also have some private investors who we are proud to have aboard from the Upstate. Proterra employees are the second largest ownership group through stock and stock options.

UpstateBizSC:
How will you build on your customer base?

David Bennett:
Every transit vehicle in the country needs to go through certification at a national test facility in Altoona, Pennsylvania. We will be the first battery-electric transit bus to go through that certification process and the results should be out this month. Once we pass that hurdle, it will allow us to sell in mass production to transit agencies.

We believe there is a huge market potential for our product over the next decades as transit authorities around the world look to replace their aging fleet. We would love to move into the Canadian markets and selectively find the right partners. There have been some great efforts in Brazil and Chile and Mexico to invest into zero emission buses. While looking to the future, we do not want to get ahead of ourselves. We want to take care of our current customers and look into these larger opportunities in 2013. We are getting very close to proving that we have a vehicle that customers can bet their future on. It's an exciting time for us.

UpstateBizSC:
Do you have any competitors?

David Bennett:
There are a lot of people experimenting in this space around the world. We are fortunate to be already in the operating model which puts us relatively ahead of the game. Some new products have been developed in China, but after a year of operation, they have run into serious problems. The buses work for a year, but then they develop problems with battery life.

We are seeing a lot of announcements, but it takes a lot of time to ramp up and actually get a running vehicle out of the door. We find that the presence of other competitors in the market helps to build credibility with the customers and the supply base. Competition is good!

UpstateBizSC:
What is your educational and professional background?

David Bennett:
I earned my undergraduate degree from Duke University. This is the first time since graduating in 1983 that I have been back in the Carolinas. I worked for GE, then Honeywell for seven years, then Eaton Corporation out of Cleveland for about ten years. I spent about half of that time overseas in Poland and in China.

UpstateBizSC:
How did you hear about Proterra?

David Bennett:
After a stint in a pretty fast paced entrepreneurial market in Asia, I returned to Eaton to do strategy and business development. I was approached during time by Kleiner Perkins, a company that does quite a bit of venture capital work and who is one of the lead investors in Proterra, about this leadership opportunity. I have always loved the clean tech space and I have spent most of the time in my career in advanced technology. It's a perfect fit.

Proterra participates in 2012 TASC Annual Exhibition

March 13, 2012

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | March 13, 2012 – Proterra, maker of the world’s first fast-charge battery-electric, transit bus will take part in the Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC) 2012 Annual Training Event Exhibition and Bus Roadeo. This event brings together TASC members, executive directors, education officials, staff, vehicle operators, industry manufacturers, suppliers and government officials. The event consists of training, a showcase of the latest transit industry products and services, and provides networking opportunities. The conference will be held at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort, March 16-21, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Proterra will have a booth in the exhibit hall and Founder Dale Hill will be in attendance. During the recent IEEE International Electric Vehicle Conference in Greenville, S.C., Dale shared: “my personal goal is to have a Proterra bus in every major city in South Carolina, starting with Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Clemson, and reaching out to all of the cities in between” - Liz Segrist, GSA Business. He later followed this up by saying: “Proterra is dedicated not only to selling buses in South Carolina, but also growing our South Carolina workforce and supplier base.”

If you will be in attendance at this year’s TASC Annual Exhibition, be sure to stop by the Proterra booth, #1, in the exhibit hall. Dale will be there, along with other Proterra representatives, to share how Proterra continues to innovate and advance the transit industry with cost-effective, clean solutions.

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra targets transit agencies nationwide

March 06, 2012

Proterra Inc. is in different stages of negotiations with up to eight transit agencies around the U.S. that have received funding to buy battery electric busses — funding that could translate to new customers for the company, said Proterra’s Founder Dale Hill.

“We’ve been fortunate over the last three years that there have been a lot of transit-related grants,” Hill said, during the 2012 International Electric Vehicle Conference in Greenville Tuesday.

Proterra manufactures electric, zero-emissions buses in Greenville. Proterra’s 35-foot EcoRide bus is designed for an 18-year life span. It takes 10 minutes to charge at its 500-kilowatt electric bus charging system for two-to-four hours of repeated route capabilities, translating to 30 to 50 miles, Proterra CEO David Bennett said during a 2011 news conference.

“My personal goal is to have a Proterra bus in every major city in South Carolina, starting with Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Clemson, and reaching out to all of the cities in between,” Hill said.

Seneca received $4.1 million in federal transportation funding in November to buy five electric buses from Proterra to replace the city’s three diesel busses. Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif., operates three EcoRide buses and VIA San Antonio Transit deployed its EcoRide buses in 2011.

Proterra signed an agreement in 2011 with StarMetro, the transit provider in Tallahassee, Fla., to deliver three new EcoRide zero-emission transit buses and a charging station, to be delivered in spring 2012.

Proterra currently has up to 30 active negotiations with major transit agencies from coast to coast, Hill said, to discuss interest in the buses or efforts to receive grant funding.

Four agencies that had plans to issue requests for grant proposals in 2011 are: Regional Transportation Commission RTC in Reno, Nev.; King County Metro Transit in Seattle; Chicago Transit Authority; and Fresno Area Express FAX in Fresno, Calif., Bennett said.

Oceanside, Calif.; Long Beach, Calif.; Clemson; Seneca; Myrtle Beach; Orlando, Fla.; Polk County, Fla.; Flint, Mich.; and Akron, Ohio all have transit agencies that will be targeted as potential Proterra customers, Proterra officials said during a 2011 news conference.

Proterra recently signed a four-year lease for its current Greenville headquarters at 25 Whitlee Court in Greenville. The 220,000-square-foot facility was originally considered temporary.

The young company launched operations in Greenville in 2010 with plans to build a larger facility at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research campus. Those plans stalled as the company ran into financing difficulties.

In June 2011, Proterra received a $30 million investment led by Silicon Valley venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, along with GM Ventures, Mitsui & Co., Vision Ridge Partners and 88 Green Ventures LLC. Hill expects the investments to continue.

Bennett, previously the vice president of business development for Eaton Corp., took over the company as CEO last year with plans to focus on strong design and customer recruitment.
Read the full story in the March 26 issue of GSA Business. Subscribe here.

Proterra CBDO will speak to Financial Management Committee at 2012 APTA Legislative Conference

March 06, 2012

Washington, D.C. | March 6, 2011 – Proterra, maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus will take part in this year’s 2012 American Public Transportation Association Legislative Conference. This conference brings together myriad representatives from all areas of the transit industry to direct advocacy efforts and legislative strategy to U.S. Administration and Congress. It also provides opportunities for interaction with members of Congress, Administration officials, and Washington opinion makers. The conference will be held in Washington, D.C., March 11-13^th.

Proterra Chief Business Development Officer and General Counsel Marc Gottschalk will be attending the conference on behalf of Proterra. Additionally, Gottschalk was asked to speak to the Financial Management Committee on the technology, infrastructure and support costs, and financing benefits of electric buses on Sunday, March 11^th, from 11:00-1:00pm. Marc will continue to share Proterra’s vision for the future of transit and the advancement of Proterra’s innovate zero-emission, heavy-duty battery-electric vehicle solution.

“Between changing regulations on vehicle emission standards and the current House Transportation bill, this is an important time have collective and effective discussions among all stakeholders within the transit industry” said Gottschalk. “At Proterra, we strongly believe that both collaboration and innovation are central to the future of public transit.”

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra CEO Discusses Regional Economic Development

February 28, 2012

Greenville, South Carolina | February 28, 2012 –Proterra CEO David Bennett attended the Upstate SC Alliance breakfast Friday, February 24^th. As the maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus, Proterra joined other regional businesses to discuss economic development.

According to Upstate SC Alliance, its vision is to “‘Position and market the Upstate SC region to successfully compete for business investment globally.’ The Alliance's goal is to spearhead an aggressive, innovative and comprehensive global marketing strategy to attract new investment to the Upstate region.”

The Alliance breakfast meeting focused on raising capital in the Upstate S.C. region. Azalea Capital provided insights on its approach and results, facilitating a wonderful learning session for many of the smaller businesses in attendance. Consul General of the Consulate General of Canada in AtlantaSteve Brereton provided an overview of trade as well as current and future opportunities.

“At Proterra, we’re excited to be part of a community that is focused on creating increased opportunities and greater investment in the Upstate region” said Bennett. “By working with other regional businesses on economic development, Proterra hopes to be an integral part of continued prosperity and enhanced quality of life in Upstate S.C.”

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra Founder to speak at 2012 IEEE Electric Vehicle Conference

February 20, 2012

Greenville, South Carolina | February 20, 2012 – Proterra, maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus will take part in the first IEEE Electric Vehicle Conference (IEVC). During IEVC, academic and industrial thought leaders will exchange information on new global trends in technology, engineering, standards and deployment aspects. The conference will be held at the TD Convention Center, March 4^th– 8^th, in Greenville, South Carolina.

Proterra Founder Dale Hill will be a plenary keynote speaker on Tuesday, March 6th at 8:00 a.m. He will discuss how Proterra Inc continues to innovate and advance the world of zero-emission, heavy-duty battery-electric vehicles.

“Proterra will be delivering buses to San Antonio, Texas and Tallahassee, Florida over the next six months and continues to make progress in advancing the adoption of battery-electric transit buses across the nation” said Hill. “The Proterra EcoRide not only offers the best total cost of ownership in the industry, it also allows transit agencies to meet future regulations now by drastically reducing carbon emissions.”

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

2012: The Year Ahead

January 13, 2012

Seneca aiming for more Proterra funds

February 14, 2012

SENECA — The city of Seneca could be welcoming a near $30 million in grant money for the expansion and beautification efforts connected to the Proterra electric bus program.

During Monday’s City Council meeting, Council approved four motions to apply for separate grants, ranging in total funds from $5 million to $13.5 million.

The first grant is the “Tiger grant”, which is a Federal Department of Transit fund that can be used for ‘rural projects’ and amounts up to $13.5 million.

“We are going to use that money to improve North First Street from Ingles intersection to downtown, up to Miracle Circle,” said Ed Halbig, codes official for Seneca. “We want to have designed stops for these buses so they don’t interrupt traffic, make the bus stops walkable from stop to stop. We want to improve the area down by Pete’s Restaurant so it doesn’t flood when it rains and focus on better sidewalks.”

The next grant would be for more of the same, he added, stating that a “livability grant” would tack on another $5 million for sidewalks and safety measures.

The third, dubbed a “state of good repair” grant would give $5 million to Seneca for extra buses.

“Part of what we are touting is the fact that we want to be an all-electric system,” Halbig added. “Which means we shouldn’t be dependent on a diesel bus if one of these breaks down and can’t complete a route.”

This grant would also help take care of bus facilities and even work toward having some buses stored in Seneca if a route ends in town, saving a trip back to Clemson just to start a route in Seneca the next morning.

And finally, the last grant comes from the recommendation of the Center for Transportation and Environment, which could add another $5 million to possibly develop a training and education program that could teach interested parties about the electric bus system and also train Proterra technicians in the city limits.

And in closing, Mayor Dan Alexander credited the late Mayor Larry Abernathy of Clemson with keeping such an open mind about public transportation over the years and during his time serving his beloved city.

“He always kept that door open,” he said. “He helped us so much here in Seneca with the CAT bus and we’re not even in his county. He had a vision of connecting all of our areas, even into Anderson and around the local universities. He will be greatly missed. He was a wonderful leader and visionary.”

Which Are Better: Electric Cars or Natural Gas Vehicles?

January 11, 2012

The debate has raged for years in alternative transportation. Electric vehicle (EV) advocates claim that the steady improvement in battery technology, the pervasiveness of the grid, and software and services to enable things like high-speed charging will make electrification of at least some portion of the transportation market inevitable.

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk predicts that 13 percent or more of cars coming off production lines could be electric by 2020 while Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn says 20 percent of its cars by 2020 will be electrics, and that doesn’t count standard hybrids, which are partly electric.

Electric will even play a role in public transportation, argues Proterra, which has created an electric bus for municipal transportation and a complementary high-speed DC charger that can get its 68-passenger behemoths back on the street in 20 minutes or less.

CNG advocates, however, claim they have a big advantage on their side: reality. CNG cars already exist and natural gas, thanks to hydraulic fracturing, could remain relatively cheap for some time.

Who is right? To be honest, both. EVs and CNG vehicles will percolate into the market over the next ten years depending on the circumstances. Here’s a general roundup of the pluses and minuses.

1. Efficiency. EVs tend to win hand down in this category, primarily because the large natural gas-burning turbines at power plants remain far more efficient than the small ones squeezed into cars. A 2010 report from MIT states:

While both EVs (electric vehicles) and NGVs (natural gas vehicles) have significant infrastructure requirements, there are major differences in their relative efficiencies. An NGV does not have comparable efficiency gains relative to electrification via natural gas generation. In general, 1,000 cubic feet (cf) of natural gas, converted to electricity, yields 457 miles in an EV. This same 1,000 cf in an NGV would only have a range of around 224 miles. (The quote comes from page 24 of the study.)

A 2006 paper by Marc Tarpenning and Martin Eberhard, the first two of the five people listed as founders at Tesla Motors, found natural gas vehicles less efficient than hydrogen, hybrids, gas, diesel and electrics. Yes, Tarpenning and Eberhard are EV proponents, but the numbers work.

Proterra’s all-electric bus gets between 17.5 to 29 miles per gallon, according to the company. Even if you take 20 mpg as a estimate, that beats the 3 to 4 mpg for CNG buses, according to the Department of Transportation. (page 11).

2. Filling Stations. Again, it’s an EV victory. A 240-volt charger, which can charge a car within 3 to 8 hours, costs $2,000, including installation, according to Colin Read, vice president of corporate development at Ecotality.

“DC fast chargers are currently around $50,000 with installation, although these prices are anticipated to come down greatly,” Read added.

A CNG filling station, by contrast, costs around $750,000, says Bruce Russell, director of communications at Clean Energy Fuels, which builds CNG stations. The price includes compression equipment, typically planted underground, tanks and dispensers, hardware not needed in EV charging stations.

The high price of the filling stations means that CNG cars will likely be purchased by fleet owners for the foreseeable future. Fleet cars drive in somewhat predictable orbits relatively close to home base, which cuts down on the need for filing stations.

Clean Energy, however, hopes to take the sting out of the pricing and expand usability with portable and modular filling stations. It installed its first one, which can accommodate ten vehicles at once, in Chilliwack, Canada last month.

“It is all on wheels. It just needs an electrical connection and a gas connection,” Russell said. “It is going to widely expand the fueling opportunities.”

In all, the company built 68 filling stations in 16 states last year, including five LNG stations.

3. Vehicle Cost. Call it a toss-up. The all-electric Ford Focus starts at $39,200 before $7,500 in federal tax credits and state credits that can come to a few thousand. A standard Focus ranges in price from $16,500 to $22,000. Ford does not make natural gas cars, but some cars can be retrofitted into natural gas machines for around $10,000. Making cars that run natively on natural gas (like some manufacturers do on a limited basis) reduces the cost. But batteries are coming down too and EVs require less maintenance than combustion cars of any stripe.

4. Fuel costs. Electrics win—it only takes a fuel of electricity to go a mile–but CNG cars perform well. A CNG car operates on the equivalent of $2 per gallon of fuel. Since both save over petroleum and diesel, both will ultimately be attractive. Other factors on the list may weigh more in importance such as…

5. Range. This is where CNG begins to shine. A four-door CNG taxi with a tank that can hold the equivalent of 15 gallons of fuel can get close to 300 miles on a tank. 200 miles is easy. Most mid-range and economy-level EVs like the Nissan Leaf get almost 100 miles on a charge.

“It is not practical for that type of industry to use an EV,” said Gerry Koss, fleet marketing manager at Ford. “What are the choices? CNG provides a good alternative.”

Long range is also making liquefied natural gas a growing option in ppen water shipping and long-haul trucking. Sure, an LNG filling station might run you $1.2 to $1.5 million (Clean Energy Fuels’ estimate), but try to run a big rig on batteries. They weigh far too much: the batteries would add tons to the hauling mass. The company is currently conducting a pilot with Flying J truck stops to co-locate LNG spout at diesel stations.

Payback is easy to measure too, Russell says. A big rig might consume 20,000 gallons of fuel a year. If natural gas costs the equivalent of $2 per gallon, the driver or trucking company can saves $40,000 a year. A garbage truck might consume 10,000 gallons a year and cost $15,000 to retrofit. The retrofit pays for itself in less than a year and the truck might last seven years.

6. Charge Time. It takes only a few minutes to fill a CNG car. EVs can take hours.

So how will the debate shape up? The deciding factor could be fast DC charging. Fast charging papers over arguably the two biggest drawbacks on EVs—range and charge time—and it doesn’t depend on scientific breakthroughs in chemistry or physics like bringing down the cost and boosting the performance of batteries will require.

Fast charging requires money and regulatory help: electricity rates were not created to accommodate the burst-type consumption needed for fast charging.

And because power lines and transformers already criss-cross the country, it might be easier than trying to build a CNG superhighway. The fact that T. Boone Pickens and others have been lobbying for handouts from the Federal and state governments for natural gas indicates that the infrastructure for methane could get expensive.

Then again, heavy-duty vehicles may never be amenable to electric drive. They can be outfitted with micro-hybrid units to help cut gas during stops and starts, but may ultimately always rely on liquid fuel.

And it could take years for many fleet owners to get over range anxiety. A government agency that needs cars to check out municipal softball fields might be able to get by with electrics, but taxi routes are unpredictable. The passenger that gets in at O’Hare Airport might need to go downtown, or to Northern Indiana.

Proterra CEO Named Among Greenville’s 50 Most Influential People of 2011

January 03, 2012

Greenville, S.C. | Jan 3, 2012 – Proterra CEO David Bennett was named as one of Greenville’s 50 Most Influential People of 2011 by Greenville Business Magazine. Maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus, Proterra welcomed Bennett as its new CEO last September at the American Public Transportation Association Annual Meeting & Expo.

Individuals selected for this honor “made the most impact on Greenville during the past year in the business, government, education and nonprofit categories” according to Greenville Business Magazine. “David Bennett is leading Proterra as it continues to highlight the growing market for zero-emission solutions in the transit industry.”

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Innovation and time drives down the green price tag

January 05, 2012

While many may think the term “green” is as new as “environmentally friendly,” the fact is humans have been tinkering with what could be considered green technology since the 19th Century. For instance in 1899, 90 percent of New York City’s taxi cabs were electric. In that same year and in 1900, electric cars outsold all other types of cars, such as gas and steam-powered vehicles. Windmills played a major role in populating the western frontier.

Consider this: The U.S. could decrease its reliance on foreign oil by 40 percent if one in 10 Americans used public transportation each day. According to the American Public Transportation Association, public transportation in the U.S. saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline – more than 11 million gallons per day – and 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions. To match a similar reduction in carbon emissions, every household in New York City, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Denver and Los Angeles combined would have to completely stop using electricity.

Public transportation agencies are now taking bigger steps to go green, certainly more than just offering free rides on Earth Day. Last year the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority began installing a new federally funded solar canopy installation at one of its bus garages. It will be the largest solar canopy installation in Georgia and the second largest in the U.S., and it will significantly off set power usage at the facility. Last April in Lafayette, IN, CityBus broke ground on a wind turbine project. The $2.18 million project will power CityBus facilities with renewable wind energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Intercity Transit in Olympia, WA continues to enhance its bus stops with the installation of solar lights in bus shelters.

So, green is good, on this we can all agree, but what about the costs of going green?

Green technology is really no different than other innovations. Maturity of the product, and mass production all work naturally to bring costs down. Remember the high price tag of VCRs when they first hit the market? Historically, innovation and time whittles down product costs.

In the green bus industry costs are dropping annually in a number of areas, including batteries, composite body construction, and in motor and charging station technology.

“The maturity of the products is increasing, and this is something we’ve been able to take advantage of,” says Voith Product Group Manager Tracey Johnson. “In our energy storage systems we use ultra capacitors instead of batteries. That technology has really seen marked improvements over the last five to 10 years. It’s enabled our product to perform to the level that we expect. If we would have released it a number of years ago the maturity of that energy storage system would not have been there. We’re starting to see the product prove itself in the field. That’s actually the point where it has matured.”

“We have an aggressive cost down program that has already identified a number of areas for cost reduction, and we are just at the beginning of a deep dive on the process,” says Marc Gottschalk, chief business development officer for Proterra, Inc.

Proterra’s engineers have had their hands full trying to lower the cost of the company’s EcoRide BE35. One challenge has been lowering the cost of the typical bus components that have been used for years, such as seats.

“The early production units of certain components that are made specifically for our bus or a relatively small market, like all electric HVAC systems, do not yet have the advantage of price reductions caused by mass production,” Gottschalk says. “However, batteries for example are reducing in price substantially as EVs scale up leads to more price competition.”

Bus and trolleybus manufacturer DesignLine is focused on eliminating the large polluting engine and multi-gear automatic transmissions for all-electric drive vehicles. While the upfront costs are more for agencies going all-electric green with new buses, the savings literally down the road can be substantial.

“Our electric buses are coming in well under a million dollars, in the $850,000 to $950,000 range, and the markets are starting to support it,” says Josh Anderson, DesignLine’s executive vice president of engineering. “But even with an upfront in purchase cost, the maintenance costs drop about 55 percent and the fuel cost decreases about 60 percent. That still puts us a quarter million dollars below a diesel on a 12-year life cycle.”

Anderson says the cost of maintenance plummets with the death of the internal combustion engine, with all its belts and rotating components.

“The transmission is a high maintenance item with big costs,” Anderson says. “We estimate a 65 percent reduction in regularly scheduled oil, filter and belt changes. When you’re servicing an electric vehicle you’re not doing any of that for electric motors. We reduce the wear and tear on the brakes because we’re using the electric motor to perform some of that function through regenerative braking. We’ve electrified all of our accessories; the air conditioning compressor, the air compressor on the engine and the alternator’s gone.”

Anderson adds that he can now pay $6,000 for an electric motor off the shelf anywhere in the country. Technology has advanced to where there are no longer skyrocketing prices for various prototypes. From new electric buses down to their parts, costs are falling.

“Technologies are getting better, volumes are getting better,” Anderson says. “It’s becoming a more commodity-driven market. Spending a million dollars on a prototype is no longer needed. It’s not going to make these buses unavailable to most agencies.”

In the end, Johnson may very well sum up the direction for both the builders of current and future buses and the industry’s parts manufacturers.

“The final goal is a fully electrified vehicle,” Johnson says. “We’re building toward that.”

Proterra’s Goldman to Speak at EV Tech Symposium

January 03, 2012

San Diego, California | Dec 30, 2011 –Proterra, maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus will take part in The SAE 2012 Electric Vehicle Technology Symposium. The symposium will focus on real-world data and delivery on the latest innovations in electric vehicle technology. It takes place February 23, 2012 in San Diego, California.

Proterra business development officer Joshua Goldman will be speaking Thursday, February 23^rd at 10:45 a.m. on the Status of Heavy Duty EVs.

“Advancing EV technologies is essential to the continued evolution and forward progress within the transit world” said Goldman. “Not only can Proterra’s EcoRide drastically reduce carbon emissions, it can also create a predictable operating environment for public transit agencies – an increasingly important concern for agencies large and small who currently rely on fossil fuels.”

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Greenville again seeks aid to buy electric buses

November 28, 2011

A worker puts the final polishing to the windshield of the new bus. / KEN OSBURN/Staff

November 28, 2011 - Greenville, SC - Public transit agencies around the country are starting to buy Proterra Inc.’s battery-powered buses.

So far, however, they do not include the transit authority in Greenville, the city Proterra chose for its manufacturing plant and headquarters.

That will change if the Greenville Transit Authority is successful in its third application for federal funding to pay for a rapid-bus service using Proterra’s zero-emission vehicles.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is expected to decide on the request in March, said Carl Jackson, GTA’s executive director and transportation director for the city of Greenville.

Meanwhile, Seneca this past week became the first South Carolina city to announce service using Proterra buses.

Seneca officials said they’d use $4.1 million from the Federal Transit Administration and $2 million from the Southern Co., the Atlanta-based power company, to buy five Proterra buses and launch all-electric bus service in the city of 8,300. Mayor Dan Alexander hopes the novel transit system will draw international attention and a stream of visitors.

Proterra had previously announced three-bus deals with transit agencies in California, Texas and Florida. The startup company has also deployed buses using hybrid technology at three sites as part of demonstration projects.

In Greenville, GTA has been twice rejected for federal funding it sought to develop a bus rapid transit (BRT) system using Proterra buses.

BRT lines are designed to provide faster, more efficient service than conventional bus lines without incurring the expense of a rail system.

In 2009, GTA asked unsuccessfully for about $100 million to pay for a regional BRT system stretching from Clemson University to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and from Travelers Rest to Fountain Inn.

In 2010, it sought — again unsuccessfully — $15 million to develop an eight-mile, nine-station BRT line that would link downtown with the International Center for Automotive Research.

In September, the GTA board initially declined to apply for federal funding again, then decided to go ahead within the past month, Jackson said.

In its latest application, GTA seeks $21.7 million to run eight Proterra buses along the previously proposed BRT line and also launch express service to GSP and Mauldin/Simpsonville.

As it did in its 2010 application, GTA envisions “transit villages” — clusters of housing, shops and offices — springing up within a 10-minute walk of each stop on the line.

The BRT line would start at the Kroc Center downtown and end at the St. Francis medical office complex near ICAR.

Along the way, it would stop at the Amtrak and Greenlink stations downtown, near the zoo at the corner of Washington Street and Laurens Road, near the TD Convention Center along Pleasantburg Drive, at Haywood Road, inside the Verdae development and at ICAR.

For 3.4 miles between Pleasantburg Drive and ICAR, the buses would travel by themselves along a dedicated route that is now an unused rail line controlled by Greenville County. The corridor would have room for pedestrians and bicycles and so could be used for recreation like the Swamp Rabbit Trail between downtown and Travelers Rest.

The buses would have onboard WiFi Internet service and multiple flat-panel televisions, according to GTA’s application for the federal money.

Proterra’s buses cost more than their diesel-fueled competitors, but the company says it’s worth it over the long run.

The company’s EcoRide model sells for between $850,000 and more than $1 million, depending on how many are included in the deal, how they’re equipped, the energy storage capacity and the size of the charger, said Marc Gottschalk, Proterra’s chief business development officer and general counsel. That compares to about $400,000 for a conventional diesel bus.

Gottschalk, however, said transit agencies can save $750,000 in fuel costs per bus over 16 years by using Proterra’s vehicles instead of diesel-powered ones.

Greenville Mayor Knox White said he rode a Proterra bus operated by Foothill Transit in Los Angeles County when he was in California about a month ago.

“So if anyone wonders if it’s for real, I’ve been there and seen it and it’s for real,” White said. “I certainly hope that soon we can see them on the streets of Greenville.”

Greenville County Councilman Fred Payne said he thinks the GTA plan would make Greenville more attractive to companies thinking about creating jobs in the area and would also spur development along the bus stops, a potential benefit to his Golden Strip constituents.

“It says something about sort of the level of the community that has a good transit system available,” Payne said.

Greenville businessman Jack Stone has said he’s ready to spend $10 million to launch the first phase of a 22-acre development at the planned bus stop near the intersection of Laurens Road and Pleasantburg Drive if the federal money comes in.

Gottschalk said he hopes GTA is successful in its latest try for federal funding.

Seneca “Goes Green” with Proterra Buses

November 22, 2011

Greenville | Nov. 22, 2011 – Proterra, the leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, was named by the City of Seneca as the intended manufacturer to build the city’s next generation of transit buses.

Last week, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $112 million in clean fuels and TIGGER (Transit Investments in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction)grants. The City of Seneca received one of 46 awardsand received a TIGGER grant from the FTA for approximately $4.1 million.

During a press conference this morning at City Hall, local and state officials shared their plans to use these funds, along with additional public and private funding, to replace Seneca’s current diesel buses with 35-foot, fast charge battery electric buses built locally by Proterra in Greenville, S.C.

In a letter to Seneca officials, Al Gore congratulated them on a choice that will have both a positive impact the environmental as well as U.S. job creation.

“Its exciting days in Seneca” said Mayor Dan Alexander, “the City of Seneca will be the first in the nation to be a totally Electric Bus System.” City Administrator Greg Diettrick added “The best is yet to come. Stay tuned for bigger events coming to our city.”

Clemson Area Transit (CATbus) general manager Al Babinicz shared “We hope eventually as the battery technology improves over time to eventually expand the all-electric concept to other areas like Clemson University, the city of Clemson and beyond.”

Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif., is already operating EcoRide buses and VIA San Antonio Transit, as well as StarMetro in Tallahassee, Fla., have placed orders with Proterra. These orders are being built at the current assembly line plant in Greenville, S.C.

For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Officials May Buy Proterra Electric Buses

November 17, 2011

November 17, 2011 - CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson Area Transit Executive Director Al Babinicz said Monday that Clemson University and the city of Seneca are continuing to explore options regarding the purchase of electric buses.

“We’re probably a year away as we expect to know about grant opportunities within the next year,” Babinicz said.

Electric buses have been on the minds of local officials for nearly a year. Representatives toured the Proterra Inc. plant in Greenville last May.

Proterra Inc. features the world’s first battery-electric bus that can charge in under 10 minutes and provides FastFill charging stations.

David Bennett, center, the new CEO of Proterra, Inc., said he believes Clemson and Clemson University have an excellent chance to secure grant funding for electric buses in the near future. Seneca is also seeking up to five electric buses for its transit route. Jessica Nelms | The Journal

New Proterra Inc. CEO David Bennett and Proterra founder Dale Hill were among the officials present at Monday’s formal dedication of the new CAT headquarters and bus facility on West Lane. Bennett said he believes there is a good possibility that at least a portion of the nearly $22 million in electric bus grant monies being sought will be approved.

“CAT has good ridership in a smaller market, with almost two million riders, and Al delivered this facility on time and on budget,” Bennett said. “I think that’s something the state and federal governments are looking at, and we’re trying to expedite the process as much as possible.”

Seneca City Administrator Greg Dietterick said last August that the ultimate goal was to purchase up to five electric buses for the city.

“We feel that Seneca fits the prototype with routes and technology that electric buses enjoy today,” Dietterick said.

Proterra Inc. Featured on CBS Evening News

November 11, 2011

Greenville, S.C. | November 11, 2011 – Proterra Inc., producer of the world’s first fast-charge battery-electric bus, was featured Friday, November 11, 2011 on CBS Evening News. CBS Investigative Reporter Anna Werner visited Proterra during a visit to South Carolina to report on its “SmartState Initiative.” (watch the video)

Established in 2002, the SmartState Program invests in talent and infrastructure at South Carolina's three research universities, including Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, S.C., to drive economic development. SmartState supports research in areas that will help companies grow, attract new business to the state, build a technology-rich economy, and create more opportunities for South Carolina residents.

Proterra mechanical design engineer Neeraj Chirmulay, a recent graduate from the CU-ICAR masters of engineering program, was interviewed by Werner who asked if he liked working for Proterra. His response: “Love it.”

Werner also spoke with founder Dale Hill on Proterra’s relocation to Greenville, S.C., and manufacturing team member Julie Shepherd who, after many years of filling temporary positions, found permanent employment with Proterra.

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. Its ground-up designs have led to the EcoRide, the world’s first full-size, 10-minute charge transit bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra Exhibits at 46th CTA Fall Conference & Expo

October 29, 2011

San Jose C.A. | Oct. 29, 2011 – Proterra, maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus will take part in the 2011 California Transit Association Annual Fall Conference & Expo. Titled “Exploring Transit’s Future: The Journey Continues,” the expo will focus on today’s most pressing transit issues and happenings including funding, legislation, safety, agency programs, best practices, new products and more. The event takes place November 2, 3 and 4 in San Jose, California.

California Transit 46th Annual Conf. & Expo

“With rapidly changing technologies, increasing demands on public transit and changing legislation, it is important to stay connected and in tune with shifts in California’s transit industry” said Joshua Goldman, director of business development. “It is exciting to be a part of an organization that is actively implementing technologies to meet future demands. Not only do our buses significantly reduce carbon emissions, but they also create a more predictable operating environment for public transit authorities.”

Proterra’s EcoRide™ already meets the Federal Transit Administration’s goals set forth for its preferred electric drive vehicle of the year 2030, putting it 20 years ahead of schedule. Foothill Transit in Pomona, C.A. has three EcoRide™ BE35 buses in operation and VIA San Antonio Transit will be deploying Proterra buses later this year.

Proterra Moves Shop, Converts More Buses and Lands on Leno’s Website

October 27, 2011

The company said that shifting all management and research operations to their battery-electric bus manufacturing facility could help increase its production capacity. The move has brought more advanced research and manufacturing jobs to the Upstate of South Carolina as well.

“As we continue to evaluate our efficiency and scale operations, we saw value in consolidation – bringing all operational components of our company under one roof,” said CEO David Bennett.

Earlier this year, Proterra partnered with Napa Valley (Calif.) Unified School District to convert an older CNG school bus into an all-electric drive system. If the initial conversion goes as planned, Napa’s transportation director, Ralph Knight, said another CNG bus would also be converted. Districts in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Florida are also testing the electric school buses.

Meanwhile, the Proterra EcoRide fast-charge, battery-electric bus was featured on comedian Jay Leno’s Garage website on Oct. 10. The host of NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" visited with George Karbowski at Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif., where Proterra’s buses have been in service since last year.

“To have the EcoRide bus featured by Jay on his website is a testament to the revolutionary nature of the bus for the public transit industry,” Bennett said.

The EcoRide fast recharge battery can deliver the diesel equivalent of 17 to 21 miles per gallon — about a 500-percent improvement over conventional buses, according to the company. Proterra designs and manufactures heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations.

Proterra Secures $15 M Credit Facility with Silicon Valley Bank

October 25, 2011

BROOMFIELD, CO – October 25, 2011 — Proterra, the leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, secured $15M in working and growth capital financing from Silicon Valley Bank, financial partner to technology, cleantech and life science companies of all sizes worldwide. Proterra will use the new funds to help finance existing orders and new sales, and it will help extend financial runway to Proterra’s next round of venture capital financing.

Servicing the growing market for zero-emission solutions in the transit industry, Proterra’s EcoRide is the world’s first battery-powered electric bus that can charge in less than 10 minutes, replacing conventional diesel buses. When compared to traditional diesel buses used throughout the country, the EcoRide consistently performs with up to 600 percent better fuel efficiency, averaging more than 21 MPGe when fully loaded with 64 passengers. Proterra’s bus complies with federal and state mandates to reduce emissions 20 years ahead of the requirements. When compared to the diesel equivalent, fuel and maintenance cost savings will exceed $800K over the vehicle’s life.

“The team at Silicon Valley Bank has been a diligent partner, helping us put together an excellent financing solution that will help us continue to grow,” said Jack McFarland, CFO of Proterra. “Having a bank that understands that innovation requires creativity in all aspects of your business, including its financing, is invaluable. We are grateful for Silicon Valley Bank’s support, as well as its broad set of services that will help us manage our business successfully.”

In addition to new financing and cash management services, Proterra recently began working with Silicon Valley Bank’s asset management team, its Analytics group for valuations and its CapMx product to manage its capitalization tables.

“What is so great about working at Silicon Valley Bank is the chance to work with innovative companies that are finding new and better ways to improve the status quo,” said Cindy Schatz, senior relationship manager of Silicon Valley Bank in Colorado. “Although not yet in full production, Proterra’s buses have already been sold to several municipalities to support their public transportation needs, and that’s exciting.”

Silicon Valley Bank’s experienced cleantech bankers offer a comprehensive suite of financing solutions, treasury management, corporate investment and international banking services to its clients worldwide.

About Proterra With manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. Its ground-up designs have led to the EcoRide, the world’s first full-size, 10-minute charge transit bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

About Silicon Valley Bank Silicon Valley Bank is the premier bank for technology, life science, cleantech, venture capital, private equity and premium wine businesses. SVB provides industry knowledge and connections, financing, treasury management, corporate investment and international banking services to its clients worldwide through 26 U.S. offices and seven international operations. (Nasdaq: SIVB) www.svb.com.

Silicon Valley Bank is the California bank subsidiary and the commercial banking operation of SVB Financial Group. Banking services are provided by Silicon Valley Bank, a member of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve System. SVB Financial Group is also a member of the Federal Reserve System.

Proterra Featured at The Battery Show

October 21, 2011

Greenville, S.C. | Oct. 23, 2011 – Proterra, maker of the world’s first battery-electric, fast-charge transit bus will take part in The 2011 Battery Show: The Expo for Advanced Batteries. The expo takes place October 25, 26 and 27^th in Novi, Michigan and is America’s biggest free to attend exhibition for advanced batteries.

“Our organization realizes the challenges facing the transit industry in terms of rising costs and changing regulations” said Hill. “Proterra’s EcoRide bus trades the unpredictability of volatile fossil fuel costs for the reliable cost of electricity resulting in dramatic fuel cost savings. The Battery Show is just one more opportunity to promote implementation of advanced battery technology throughout North America.”

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra Featured at InnoMobility 2011

October 18, 2011

Greenville, S.C. | Oct. 18, 2011 – Proterra founder and chief technical officer Dale Hill spoke at the inaugural InnoMobility Conference in Greenville, S.C. describing Proterra as a paradigm shift in the transit industry.

“The public transit industry faces an unpredictable future in regard to operating expenses, wage increases and fuel costs. Proterra’s EcoRide fast-charge, battery-electric bus provides a highly predictable solution trading volatile fossil fuel costs for lower electricity costs” stated Hill. Hill shared with the crowd how this revolutionary public transit vehicle is the result of hard work, teamwork, and strategic partnerships with investors, municipalities, transit authorities and operators as well as the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), the Federal Transportation Association and the Department of Energy among others.

“Our participation in InnoMobility2011 is an opportunity to connect with other Greenville tech companies in support of Greenville’s business community – one that has rallied to support us and made us a proud member.” said Hill.

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. Its ground-up designs have led to the EcoRide, the world’s first full-size, 10-minute charge transit bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra EcoRide Bus Featured on Jay Leno’s Garage

October 10, 2011

Greenville, S.C. | Oct. 10, 2011 – The ProterraEcoRide fast-charge, battery-electric bus is being featured today on the Jay Leno’s Garage website. Leno visited with George Karbowski at Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif., where Proterra’s buses have been in service since late last year. In the video, Leno takes the Ecoliner (Foothill Transit’s name for the EcoRide) for a spin and discusses the future of public transit with Karbowski.

“Jay Leno’s Garage is known for showcasing the leading vehicles and technologies in the automotive industry,” said David Bennett. “To have the EcoRide bus featured by Jay on his website is a testament to the revolutionary nature of the bus for the public transit industry.”

Along with the video, the website contains a number of images of the EcoRide bus taken at Foothill Transit.

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. Its ground-up designs have led to the EcoRide, the world’s first full-size, 10-minute charge transit bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra Introduces New CEO at 2011 APTA EXPO

October 03, 2011

New Orleans | Oct. 3, 2011 – Proterra,the leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, announced today at the 2011 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) EXPO that it has appointed David Bennett as its new chief executive officer.

“The APTA show is a wonderful place to showcase our EcoRide bus, the world’s first battery electric bus that can charge in under 10 minutes,” said Bennett. “Zero-emission transit solutions, like the EcoRide, are receiving more and more attention as transit agencies across the country are looking for ways to lower operating costs. Proterra is poised to deliver unprecedented efficiency in the commercial transit arena, and I am thrilled to take leadership at a time like this.”

Bennett also expressed both his enthusiasm for leading the team that brought the EcoRide to market and continuing collaboration with Proterra’s lead investors, venture firm Kleiner Perkins, General Motors Ventures and Mitsui Global investments. “It is not often you get the opportunity to take a leading-edge product to market,” said Bennett. “I am very much looking forward to the challenge.”

Bennett brings significant experience in the power unit and vehicle industry, serving most recently as vice president of business development for the industrial sector for Eaton. Bennett also spent time in other operational and corporate managerial roles with Honeywell and General Electric. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and an MBA from Drexel University.

Bennett will lead Proterra as the company continues to highlight the growing market for zero-emission solutions in the transit industry. Proterra’s EcoRide is the world’s first battery electric bus that can charge in under 10 minutes, replacing conventional diesel buses on a one-for-one basis operating 24/7. When compared to traditional diesel buses used throughout the country, the EcoRide consistently performs with 600 percent better fuel efficiency – averaging more than 21 MPGe – when fully loaded with 64 passengers.

With manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. Its ground-up designs have led to the EcoRide, the world’s first full-size, 10-minute charge transit bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

Proterra Signs Contract with StarMetro

October 03, 2011

New Orleans | Oct. 3, 2011 – Proterra,the leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, has signed an agreement with StarMetro, the transit provider in Tallahassee, Fla., to deliver three new EcoRide zero-emission transit buses and a charging station.The contract stems from a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant received by StarMetro to pursue fast-charge, electric transit buses and charging stations.

“StarMetro realizes that the future of the commercial transit industry lies in zero-emission solutions, and they are on the leading edge by taking steps to future-proof their fleet,” said David Bennett, chief executive officer for Proterra. “Proterra provides the best in the industry for fast-charging battery electric buses with our EcoRide bus taking less than 10 minutes to fully charge. With EcoRide, Proterra can help transit agencies reduce their operating costs with the added benefit of emissions-free, low-noise operation.”

Six other major urban transit agencies received similar FTA grants. Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif., is already operating three EcoRide buses and VIA San Antonio Transit will be deploying its EcoRide buses later this year. The four other agencies that will be issuing requests for proposal are Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) in Reno, Nev., King County Metro Transit in Seattle, Wash., Chicago Transit Authority and Fresno Area Express (FAX) in Fresno, Calif.

In addition to its unmatched energy efficiency and overall cost savings, Proterra’s clean transit solutions offer California transit agencies a way to address the Zero Emission Bus (Zbus) rule, which requires large California agencies to purchase 15 percent of their annual bus orders as zero-emission buses starting in 2012.

Proterra will manufacture the new orders at its current assembly line plant in Greenville, S.C. Proterra and StarMetro plan to have the buses in service by the spring of 2012.

Proterra Fulfills its Mission as a Mode of Motion

October 01, 2011

The acclaimed inventor Thomas Edison once defined electricity as a mode of motion, a description that could just as easily apply to Proterra Inc., Greenville SC, a manufacturer of advanced technology for heavy-duty transit buses powered solely by clean domestic fuels and all-electric propulsion.

Formed in 2004, Proterra has been perfecting a battery-powered electric bus that can operate on the same routes as a diesel or CNG bus, and save maintenance repairs and fuel costs. The company's EcoRide BE 35 has been put to the test for a year at Foothill Transit, West Covina, CA. Other buses are planned for San Antonio, TX and Tallahassee, FL.

It has been a rollercoaster for Proterra. In August, the company moved its headquarters from Golden, CO to Greenville, SC and into the company's 220,000-square-foot plant. But not before an investor pled guilty in the spring to charges of wire, securities and investment adviser fraud as well as conspiracy, which forced Proterra to search for other funding sources to keep rolling.

Bright news came in June when the company received $30 million from an investment group led by the Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers. The group included GM Ventures, Mitsui & Co., Vision Ridge Partners and 88 Green Ventures.

"We went through a challenging period that forced us to slow production while we went out and raised additional capital," says Proterra Chief Business Development Officer Marc Gottschalk. "The investors have given us a lot of strength in terms of not only financial backing but also in experience. This is a game changer for Proterra."

With the investment money confirmed, Jon Lauckner, president of GM Ventures, referred to the expenditure as his company's commitment to the electric propulsion and the fast-charge technology that will advance the global transportation industry.

"GM Ventures is helping us in a lot of different ways," Gottschalk says. "Our investors have worked with us on recruitment of new talent and have been working with us on battery technology. They have offered assistance in making sure our manufacturing processes are efficient, and generally stepping up to the plate in a real way to support our company."

He says GM Ventures' involvement may be seen as a stamp of approval for the future of rechargeable transit vehicles.

"In some respects we believe GM Ventures jumped on board because of what they could learn from us," Gottschalk says. "We're on the cutting edge, and I think GM appreciates that."

The $30 million influx cam months after the company was stung by and investor scandal involving Francisco Illarramendi. The 42-year-old was a majority owner of Stanford, CT-based Michael Kenwood Group LLC, and pled guilty to multiple fraud counts. The Securities and Exchange Commission alleges that Illarramendi took approximately $53 million in investor money out of a hedge fund without the consent of the fund's investors. Prosecutors called it a Ponzi scheme. Illarramendi awaits sentencing and faces 70 years in prison.

In the aftermath, dozens of workers were laid off at the South Carolina plant and some small suppliers bailed out. In the end, Proterra hung on to the vast majority of its permanent workforce and many customers rallied around the company.

One move put on hold is a proposed new plant planned for Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research in Greenville.

"We've put off developing the building and will make a decision on that by the end of the next year," Gottschalk says. "We've taken on the entire space of the facility we're in under a three-year lease. We're remaining flexible. We're going to see how the demand increases, how quickly we can scale up, and then make a decision when we pull the trigger on a permanent facility."

"There is a change in direction with the new investors, in that we have decided to pour even more resources into engineering, while manufacturing will scale a little bit more slowly. We have a lot of hiring going on right now, and the tip of the spear is in engineering hires."

In August, moving trucks backed up to the doors of the company's Golden, CO headquarters, and when fully packed headed east to Greenville.

"As a practical matter for an early-stage company it makes sense for everyone to be in one place," Gottschalk says.

The EcoRide BE35 contains all-electric components, including an electric drive motor that allows for a quieter ride. Proterra claims that without the maintenance or fuel costs associated with conventional buses, the Proterra BE35 achieves a 400-percent improvement in fuel economy, and greater than $300,000 savings in total lifetime operating expenses.

For a year three EcoRides have been in regular use by Foothill Transit. Dubbed the "Ecoliner," Foothill Transit officials put the new buses on a 19-mile, very busy, local line with nearly 60,000 boardings a month. Reports show the Ecoliner is progressing as anticipated, is meeting expectations, and continues to indicate overall energy efficiency.

"The system is designed for a two-to-four-hour transit bus cycle, which typically related to 30 to 40 miles," says Joshua Goldman, Proterra director of business development. "Over 50 miles has been demonstrated at Foothill."

Through an upcoming RFP process, Proterra will be bidding for the chance to provide Foothill Transit with more buses. Meanwhile, three EcoRides are slated for delivery to StarMetro in Tallahassee, FL, with an additional three bound for San Antonio's VIA Metro Transit.

"In think the fair assumption is that we would be delivering San Antonio toward the end of this year and Tallahassee toward the beginning of next year," Gottschalk says. "We obviously want to get them there as soon as possible, but we also want to make sure they are 100 percent quality vehicles when they show up."

"We've been talking with Proterra for a couple of years," says StarMetro Executive Director, Ron Garrison. "As the technology developed we thought it would be perfect for Tallahassee. The city has the most advanced smart grid system in the country. It fits who we are from a point of technology."

With the industry watching with great interest, Gottschalk describes Proterra as a rocket ship on a launch pad, ready to blast off and transform bus transit with its EcoRide BE35. Proterra's new investors have generated excitement in the industry. Gottschalk says bigger vendors are coming out of the woodwork to offer their products, help and expertise; the company is fielding calls from the Borg-Warners and Vapor Doors of the world.

"The two biggest issues we've had on those buses aren't chargers or motors, it's a front door," Goldman says. "We developed our own prototype door and mechanism because there was nothing available on the shelf."

Goldman says Proterra worked together with Borg-Warner on their bus transmissions and Vapor Doors on the front door mechanism to address flaws that eventually led to upgrades.

Proterra is currently reevaluating the EcoRide in every detail from the body down to the smallest bolt, which the company believes will lead to engineering advances that will also drive down the cost.

"As we go forward we are not remotely concerned about this bus being a cost-competitive vehicle with the other technologies," Gottschalk says. "It's not even a question in our minds."

Gottschalk is confident that Proterra's EcoRide will be the answer to one of transit's most constant concerns: fuel cost.

"Transit agencies live in fear of the annual fluctuations in fuel prices," he says. "But historically the price of electricity is a flat line. Suddenly, fuel sources that were normally unpredictable on an annual basis become entirely predictable. That is important."

Proterra’s “Bus Of Tomorrow”

September 12, 2011

Major essentials that are needed for “the bus of tomorrow” are expected to include zero emissions, noted reliability and strong infrastructure support. According to officials from Proterra, “This bus of tomorrow is available today at a commercially competitive price — the company’s fast-charge EcoRide™ BE-35 battery-electric bus.”

Now in use at several locations, the 35-foot bus offers seating close to a 40-foot vehicle. The composite body bus, built in Greenville, SC, is designed for an 18-year life span and is well suited for 24/7 urban bus operations. Among the “game changers” for the EcoRide™ BE-35 are Proterra’s 10-minute charge FastFill™ charging system and 2- to 4-hour (30 to 50 miles typical) repeated route capabilities, according to Proterra Director of Business Development Joshua Goldman.

“The FastFill™ is an up to 500-kilowatt electric bus charging system that can recharge the EcoRide’s™ batteries from empty to full in less than 10 minutes,” Goldman said. The charging unit is comprised of both software and hardware to rapidly charge the TerraVolt™ Energy Storage System on the EcoRide™, with a greater than 92 percent energy charge efficiency in as little as 6 minutes. While such power transfer normally might require a substantial grid connection to feed the fast charge rate, company officials say that Proterra’s proprietary architecture allows for lower cost and lower impact grid connections while maintaining high charge rates.

According to the company, Proterra’s TerraVolt™ Energy Storage System, ProDrive System and FastFill™ charge stations provide a solid solution for fleet vehicle operators with the following results:

Another key feature of the EcoRide™ BE-35 is its composite body, designed for extra long life, low weight and non-conductive safety, according to the company. “The TerraVolt lithium-titanate batteries used in the EcoRide™ BE-35 provide for safe chemistry, a wide temperature operating range and 4- to 10-times longer cycle life than typical lithium batteries used in electric cars,” Goldman said.

“One of the great features of our bus is that it gets between 17 and 29 miles per gallon (diesel equivalent range), which is significantly better than competing solutions.” He added there are other savings involved with the EcoRide™ BE-35. Because the bus is not the first heavy-duty vehicle to use a composite body, available data shows repairs are 80 percent less expensive than those of a steel body bus, Goldman said. Also, the heavy-duty motor of the EcoRide™ BE-35 has fewer moving parts, requires no constant oil changes and should be robust enough to last the vehicle’s life, according to Proterra. As for the brakes, with more than 90 percent regeneration of energy from braking to the battery taking place, brake systems should last longer with less frequent repairs and replacements.

Proterra, headquartered in Golden, CO, was founded in 2004 by Dale Hill with a vision to design and manufacture worldleading advanced technology in heavy-duty vehicles that are powered solely by clean domestic fuels. After launching a successful fleet of CNG hybrid-electric buses for another company in the 1990s that are still in use in Denver, CO, Hill formed Proterra. The goal was to develop and deliver the “bus of tomorrow” to meet a need expressed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

“Due to his past success, the FTA approached Dale Hill in 2004 and asked him to develop a fuel cell bus of tomorrow. He responded that he would make a battery-dominate hybrid bus that would feature a fuel cell serving as a hybrid range extender, to extend the range of the bus when its batteries were completed,” Goldman said. “Dale began to develop his fuel cell bus with the lion’s share of the work starting in 2007. In 2008, we also started developing a fast-charge electric
bus based on some of our initial successes with the battery we chose for the hybrid fuel cell vehicle.”

Soon after the start of Proterra, the company recognized the benefits of its TerraVolt™ batteries and their inherently safe chemistry. The development of the EcoRide™ and FastFill™ charging system followed. With the launch of the EcoRide™ BE-35, Proterra has become a leading innovator in zero emissions commercial vehicle solutions. Its technology is expected to help transit agencies deliver clean, quiet running, rider and neighborhood friendly vehicles that meet government regulations and local mandates, according to the company.

In fact, Proterra has been recognized by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as being the first to deliver a full-size transit vehicle that meets California’s Zero Emission Bus Rules, according to the company. “Our focus is to create safe and economical vehicles and charging systems that offer the highest per passenger fuel economy of any public transit option, along with the lowest operating costs,” Goldman said. “While our vehicles are pure zero-emission buses, the energy source of our electric charging stations can range from a variety of alternative fuels.”

Proterra is continuing to work with the U.S. federal government in the research of hydrogenfueled range extension, though Goldman said market economics are currently not in place for mass commercialization of this option until feedstock fuel costs come down significantly. “The current EcoRide™ is fast-charge, plug-in capable with a 30- to 50-mile range. However, the range for fuel cell buses can be extended another 200 to 250 miles with hydrogen stored on the roof of the bus. The hydrogen goes though a pair of fuel cell engines for onboard re-charging of the batteries,” Goldman said. “We believe there may be a future for hydrogen buses, but with the plug-in EcoRide™ BE-35, we are able to take advantage of more economical electricity costs. With a pure electric bus, there is potential to experience $400,000 or more in fuel costs savings over a 12-year life span compared to conventional diesel buses, and similar fuel savings when compared to diesel hybrids. Even more important, transit agencies can plan for the future with predictable electricity prices rather than being at the mercy of continual price spikes in fossil fuels.”

Any company that focuses on new technology and ideas is greatly benefited by partners with the same goals. Proterra has had several partners throughout its history among transit, finance and government entities that share the company’s vision of safe, cost effective and clean transportation. “This partner list is growing to include our most recent investors who are sure to take our business to the next level,” Goldman said. Groups helping Proterra succeed to the next level come in the form of both public and private partnerships.

On the public side, many transit and government agencies remain active in demanding clean technology, according to Goldman. On the private side, meanwhile, Proterra’s vendors continue to provide key components and technology that come in the form of chargers, batteries, motors, etc. Proterra has also benefited from private investment firms who look at technology as a solid return on investment. Goldman credits several transit agencies in helping get Proterra’s projects off the ground and into transit service.

“We are blessed to have strong partners as our early adopters. This includes Foothill Transit, in West Covina, CA; VIA Metropolitan Transit, in San Antonio, TX; and StarMetro, in Tallahassee, FL, among others,” he said. “All these agencies are at various levels of vehicle deployment, much in part to strong leadership and financial support. “An additional handful of transit systems have been awarded U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGGER II grants for the purchase of electric buses. We hope to become a partner with them for furthering a pilot program resulting in full-fledged commercial supply. In the summer of 2011, a larger number of public agencies applied for TIGGER II and other federal grant programs in order to expand market deployment around the country.

We are also looking to Canada for partners to further our project developments.” Goldman said the market for clean and efficient transportation continues to grow on a monthly basis, especially as fuel prices become more volatile. “We have what we feel is a class-leading product and a very accepting customer base. The form of transportation that we offer is still in its early stages of deployment, but there is no reason we cannot be on equal, if not better, footing to hybrid and natural gas buses over the next few years,” he said. “As a company, we appreciate the early efforts of such agencies as Foothill Transit, Via Metropolitan Transit, StarMetro and others. They were the early champions that got our project off the ground. We are now starting to see other systems looking at electric buses at a viable option.”

He added that Proterra has been able to help customers receive well-funded government grants to help pilot the company’s EcoRide™ and charging system program. “Providing a pure zero emissions bus makes it much easier to quantify GHG (greenhouse gas) impact compared to mobile source carbon- based fuels,” Goldman said. “We also work with a customer’s utility source to help with the purchase or installation of renewable sources of electricity (such as wind and solar). This allows for a near zero well-to-wheel GHG impact for moving public passengers. “I will be the first to admit there is no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle. For example, such parts as tires, plastics and rubber hoses all give off some emissions. It’s part of that new car smell we all like. But, it terms of real emissions compared to any other technology except fuel cell, electric vehicles are the most emissions- free that can be purchased. About the only thing that tends to beat us in the per-passenger fuel economy race is the bicycle.”

Since the company’s beginning in 2004, Proterra has assembled a strong management and engineering team experienced in heavy-duty vehicles; state-of-the-art manufacturing; and advanced energy storage, charging and drive systems. The company announced in 2010 its plan to build a full-scale research and development center and manufacturing plant on the campus of Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CUICAR), located in Greenville, SC. Moving manufacturing to Greenville provides Proterra with access to tremendous research and development resources for the EcoRide™ BE-35 and the FastFill™ charging stations.

“Our goal is to construct over 1,500 buses per year and grow the company to more than 800 employees over the next five years,” Goldman said. “We have already moved manufacturing from our prototyping facility in Golden, CO, to a 220,000- square-foot assembly plant in Greenville, SC, to meet near term demand. This interim facility, with a three-year lease, is capable of producing more than 200 EcoRide™ buses per year.” Among the early adopter transit agencies helping get Proterra’s technology and buses moving forward has been California's Foothill Transit. The agency has acquired three EcoRide™ BE-35 buses and two FastFill™ chargers with options for nine more buses. According to Goldman, these vehicles allow Foothill Transit to be ahead of the impending CARB zero emissions bus requirement at a fraction of the cost of current trolley bus and fuel cell bus systems.

“Foothill Transit has been driving our vehicles in revenue service since September 2010 with remarkable efficiency and reliability, given the product’s pilot nature,” Goldman said. “The good news is that the federal government continues to provide funding for this type of project and the market continues to increase. Most importantly, however, is that Foothill Transit is driving electric buses everyday with passengers on them. “We are also now building buses for VIA Metropolitan Transit and StarMetro. Just as essential, Altoona testing is taking place on one of our buses. The goal is to have this testing completed by the first quarter of 2012.”

The days of thinking that electric bus technology can only serve niche markets may soon be over. At Proterra, officials see the EcoRide™ BE-35 as a viable mainstream transit option. “Any repeated route on a 2-hour/40-mile cycle can be well served by our product. We are also working on a longer range commuter version for the remaining rush hour routes,” Goldman said. “Thanks to on-route fast charging that fully recharges batteries in less time than a typical driver layover, we are able to provide safe, economical and zero emission buses. We also provide simple infrastructure benefits compared to competitive technologies.

“Maybe our niche is zero emissions, but our focus is moving passengers at an economical rate. We think this need is uniform across the world.” Proterra officials look forward to working with current and new customers to further demonstrate the adaptability of its products to a growing user base in a variety of climates and drive cycles. The company also announced in June that a recent investment of $30 million has taken place to accelerate the commercialization of Proterra’s fast-charge transit buses and charging system. The investment is being led by Silicon Valley venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), and also includes GM Ventures; Mitsui & Co., Ltd.; Vision Ridge Partners; and 88 Green Ventures, LLC.

This investment enables Proterra to complete critical federal validation testing of its bus, roll out additional pilot fleets and complete initiatives to significantly reduce costs and increase volume production at its Greenville plant. “We produced a handful of buses in 2009 and 2010, but expect our numbers to double this year and expand further in 2012,” Goldman said. “Proterra has an opportunity, within three years, to produce over 400 buses should the market continue to show itself. We will focus on increasing product reliability and efficiency, all the while growing our team and partnerships.

“Proterra continues to provide fuel cell buses for various federal research contracts, but our main focus is on the pure battery-powered bus. Battery technology has come along well enough to now be able to provide a true zero emissions bus, one that is both economically viable as well as environmentally sustainable. “This is the ‘rocket-to-the-moon’ moment for our generation as it pertains to sustainable mobility. We at Proterra feel very honored to be a part of this movement, and it’s exciting.”

Proterra Paves Way for Growth with $30M Investment

June 13, 2011

Proterra Paves Way for Growth With $30M Investment From Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, GM Ventures, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Vision Ridge Partners and 88 Green Ventures

Company to Ramp Production of Fast Charge Battery Electric Transit Buses and Charging Stations

Golden, Colorado – June 13, 2011– Proterra Inc(www.proterra.com), a leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, today announced an investment of $30 million to accelerate the commercialization of its world-leading, fast-charge battery electric transit buses and automated bus charging system. The investment is being led by Silicon Valley venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), and also includes GM Ventures, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Vision Ridge Partners and 88 Green Ventures, LLC.

“Our goal at Proterra is to fundamentally transform urban transit,” said Jeff Granato, Chief Executive Officer of Proterra, “The tremendous resources of Kleiner Perkins, leveraged with GM’s automotive expertise and the financial and technical strength of Mitsui, Vision Ridge and 88 Green Ventures gives us an enviable platform to compete and win in the electric transit bus market.”

Proterra’s 35 foot (10 meter) EcoRide BE35™ bus, in daily service at Foothill Transit in Pomona, CA since last September, will be rolling out to VIA Transit in San Antonio and Tallahassee StarMetro later this year. The whisper-quiet, emissions-free bus of tomorrow is completely recharged in under 10 minutes with Proterra’s FastFill^TM charging station resulting in a 1 for 1 replacement of diesel buses in service on routes today. Proterra’s lightweight, composite-body bus is a major advance in the transit industry, meeting the stated 2030 goals set by the Federal Transit Agency (FTA) for advanced technology buses nearly 20 years ahead of schedule. Providing significant operating cost savings for its customers, the EcoRide is averaging close to 24 miles per gallon (diesel equivalent) in service, a more than 600% improvement over a typical diesel bus, which averages under 4 miles per gallon, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel cost savings.

"Electrification of public transportation has tremendous benefits to governments, municipalities and citizens by reducing the operating cost of transit, while also eliminating local air pollution and reducing C0₂ per passenger mile in the industry,” said Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President and Partner with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

This investment enables Proterra to complete critical federal validation testing of its bus, roll out additional pilot fleets and complete initiatives to significantly reduce costs and increase volume production at its Greenville, South Carolina manufacturing plant, which will have a capacity to produce 400 buses annually. The bus has more than 80% U.S. content from 33 states, and will create approximately 2,400 jobs nationwide by 2015.

Proterra has also strengthened its board by electing a manufacturing industry veteran, David Lehmann, as its new chairman. Mr. Lehmann is a seasoned multinational business executive and has successfully built businesses with $2 billion annual sales. He has conducted business in 28 countries for firms such as General Electric Co., Caterpillar and Solar Turbines Inc. Michael Linse, a partner at KPCB, has also joined the board.

Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses. Its ground up designs have led to the EcoRide BE-35, the world’s full size 10 minute charge transit bus that replaces conventional diesel buses on a one-for-one basis operating 24/7. Paired with the EcoRide BE-35 is Proterra’s proprietary FastFill™ charging station that docks the bus automatically and fast charges through a rooftop connection. The EcoRide BE-35 achieves about 24 miles per gallon diesel fuel equivalent fully loaded with 68 passengers – 600% better than a comparable diesel bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology please visit: www.proterra.com

Winning the future, Proterra style

January 29, 2011

Plus, Proterra's evolution into a manufacturer has generated ripple effects across the country. Proterra's buses use bus charging station components built by Aerovironment in Monrovia, California. They also feature lithium batteries produced by Altairnano in Reno, Nevada, and propulsion systems manufactured by UQM in Longmont, Colorado.

“We expect Proterra to become a significant customer for our electric propulsion systems over the next several years as they ramp up their delivery of buses, resulting in the creation of jobs at our Longmont facility,” said , UQM President and CEO Eric Ridenour.

One of Proterra's good jobs went to Julie Shepherd. Julie is a single mother--I also met her delightful daughter Autumn--and yesterday she told me one of those stories that make me so proud of the Department of Transportation and make all of us so proud to live in America.

Prior to coming to work at Proterra, Julie worked at a local BMW plant, but she was laid-off twice and was really struggling to make ends meet. Then she was hired by Proterra and trained in their Colorado headquarters.

Today, Julie is a team leader for 15 other Proterra employees on five bus component assembly stations in the Greenville plant. She has begun saving for Autumn's education. And thanks to the financial security of her new job, she recently bought her family's first house.

"I have a lot of friends who are very excited about Proterra being here," said Julie. "Everybody’s really excited about what we’re doing. When that first bus rolled out the door, we all ran out just to watch it."

Dale Hill, Founder and CTO; Jeff Granato, CEO; Autumn; me; Julie; Bharat Dave, COO; Peter Rogoff; Marc Gottschalk, Chief Business Development Officer and General Counsel

The Proterra story isn’t just about how government can deliver the extra little boost to help an entrepreneur turn a bold idea into a transformational product. It's about ordinary Americans dreaming big and building big.

By rolling off the line the world's first fast-charge all-electric transit buses with more American-made parts and materials than any other bus in service, Proterra and its more than 120 Greenville workers have certainly built big.

With its plans for a new manufacturing plant, we know that Proterra's big dreaming hasn't stopped. Founder Dale Hill expects Proterra to reach 350 workers by year-end and 1,300 by 2015: "If we are good stewards of the opportunity that's been given to us, we can become one of the leading bus manufacturers in the world."

As President Obama said, there's a future to win; Proterra has already gotten started

Recovery Act support brings jobs to Greenville, SC

December 22, 2010

Recovery Act support brings jobs to Greenville, SC; Electric bus rolls off assembly line into transit service

Thanks in part to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants, 112 Greenville, SC, workers are grateful this season for the best of gifts in these economic times: jobs in a growth industry.

Over the last few years, DOT has invested in cutting-edge research to help put a new generation of clean, fuel-efficient, zero-emission buses on our streets. And I’m very excited to see those investments are paying off--and generating many new green jobs in the process.

Earlier this month, the world’s first battery-powered electric bus--fully chargable in only 10 minutes!--rolled off the new assembly line at Proterra, Inc.’s expanded manufacturing facility in Greenville.

The Proterra crew celebrates the first EcoRide BE-35

As a result of Proterra's success, many Greenville area residents are now fully employed at the plant. And with more than 80 buses still in the works, and inquiries pouring in from many domestic and international transit agencies, Proterra is ready to ramp up production. A second assembly line will begin operation in 2011 at a larger facility currently under construction at Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research.

This “made in America” success story is rippling literally across the country. Foothill Transit, serving the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, is using a $6.6 million Recovery Act grant to put Proterra’s new Ecoliner into service, the first transit agency in the country to do so.

Foothill Transit passengers now enjoy a clean, quiet, comfortable ride. Even area residents who don’t ride transit benefit from the zero-emissions buses. And there’s more work for folks living in this economically distressed community, as charging stations are built, installed, and maintained to keep these buses running.

The ripple effect doesn’t stop there. With a $118 million Recovery Act grant, Aerovironment, Inc., which makes key components for Proterra’s fast-charging stations, has been able to expand its American manufacturing capabilities in this rapidly growing green industry. And Energetx in Holland, Michigan, has also gained jobs as a key supplier.

Proterra CEO Jeff Granato addresses Greenville, SC, workers

Now, while this green economic activity is a terrific development, it may not have happened as quickly had it not been for our Federal Transit Administration’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Back in August, 2009, FTA awarded a three-year, $450,000 grant to the Center for Transportation and the Environment in Atlanta to test Proterra’s fuel cell technology.

New jobs, cleaner air, and greater mobility--the lesson is crystal clear. When our government invests in American innovation and taps into our collective ingenuity, we reap the rewards in the form of economic growth and home-grown solutions to our most pressing energy and transportation challenges.

Original Article can be found at: http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/12/recovery-act-support-brings-jobs-to-greenville-sc-electric-bus-rolls-off-assembly-line-into-transit-.html

Proterra completing move to Greenville

September 23, 2010

Proterra Inc. expects to ship its first made-in-Greenville electric bus on Oct. 15 to Fort Lewis, Wash.

The company plans to build eight buses at its temporary facility on Whitlee Court this year, and 80 buses there in 2011. The buses arrive at the facility as empty shells and each one takes about 14 weeks to assemble. Right now, five are on the assembly line.

Proterra provided the first group tour of the facility today to students at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, where Proterra ultimately will locate its permanent assembly facility that could employ around 1,300 people.

Students rode on one of Proterra’s zero-emissions, electric buses from CU-ICAR to Proterra’s plant. No pictures were allowed in the facility. The bus is being delivered to Foothill Transit in California and is one of the last buses Proterra built in Colorado, said Westy Bowen, vice president of integrated supply.

“We are a Greenville company,” he said. “No more buses are being manufactured in Colorado.”

Proterra will bring research and development and charging station production to the temporary Greenville location, as well. Currently, 34 people work there, including managers, assembly workers and engineers. Production at the temporary location began July 19.

Bowen said construction of the facility at CU-ICAR is expected to begin this year and take 12 to 18 months to complete. Proterra hired Context Design Group of Greenville to design the facility, he said, and will seek to hire a local contractor to lead construction once designs are complete.

Proterra Gives Greenville Preview Of Electric Bus

September 22, 2010

Quick-Charge Electric Bus Rolls Into L.A. County

September 14, 2010

Proterra sells electric buses, fast-chargers to Foothill Transit

September 11, 2010

Mass transit can be a great way to get around a city, allowing you to either leave your car parked or forgo vehicle ownership altogether (David Suzuki would approve). Now, Proterra is removing the nasty diesel smoke from the bus component of these systems, putting their first three all-electric buses into full-time service in Eastern Los Angeles County's San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.

A trio of composite-bodied EcoRide BE35s, along with a pair of inductive fast-charge stations, have been delivered to Foothills Transit, which plans on putting as many as 60,000 miles a year on the 68-passenger beasts of burden. The contract includes an option for nine more units if things go smoothly during validation. Proterra likely has all its fingers and toes crossed in hopes they make a good impression given that 15 per cent of Californian transit agencies bus buys must be zero emission machines starting in 2012. They hope to build as many as 100 buses next year and 250 in 2012 at their new Greenville, SC manufacturing facility where they currently have four units in production.

The Ecoliners, as they have been dubbed by Foothills Transit, rely on the liquid-cooled UQM PowerPhase150 motors to turn the wheels while the batteries are from Altairnano, allowing them to be charged in under ten minutes. Hit the jump for a short video of the riding experience as well as bonus walk-around footage and the official press release.

Original Article and Videos can be found at: http://green.autoblog.com/2010/09/11/proterra-sells-electric-buses-fast-chargers-to-foothill-transit/

First Fast Charging EV Bus Hits Road

September 08, 2010

If you live in the West Covina, California, and commute via Foothill Transit’s Line 291, which travels between La Verne and Pomona, you’ll soon be doing so on an “Ecoliner, which is said to be the “the world’s first heavy duty, fast charging electric bus.”

Proterra Launches First Deployment of All-Electric, Zero-Emission Buses by Major Transit Agency

September 02, 2010

Leading Heavy-Duty EV Bus Manufacturer Provides Cost Effective, Comfortable Green Commercial Transit Solutions to Southern Californians

Golden, Colo. – August 31, 2010 – Proterra Inc, a leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, today announced the first major deployment of its EcoRide BE35™ zero-emission, fast-charge battery-electric transit buses by Foothill Transit, a premier public transport provider that operates bus services in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, located in the eastern portion of Los Angeles County. On Sep. 3, Foothill Transit will launch the Proterra EcoRide BE35™ buses and related fast charging stations into its existing bus fleet and transit routes with the goal of establishing a full fleet of clean-fueled vehicles by 2011.

“The first commercial deployment of Proterra’s battery-electric buses by a major transit agency like Foothill Transit is a significant milestone for Proterra and a bold step by the nation in our collective effort to decrease dependence on fossil fuel,” Proterra President and CEO Jeffery Granato said. “We look forward to additional communities throughout the U.S. and globally benefitting from the highly efficient, cost effective, clean alternative transit solution now available with the introduction of the EcoRide BE35™.”

The deployment of Proterra’s EcoRide BE35™ buses, known as the “Ecoliner” by Foothill Transit, greatly advances the electric transit industry, providing a real-world example of the benefits and ease of deployment of Proterra’s zero emission buses and charging solutions. It further demonstrates transit agencies’ existing appetite for cleaner commuting options. In addition to its unmatched performance and overall cost savings, Proterra’s clean transit solutions offers California transit agencies solutions to address the Zero Emission Bus (Zbus) regulation, which requires large California agencies to purchase 15 percent of their annual bus orders as zero emission buses starting in 2012.

Proterra’s EcoRide BE35™ buses are unlike any conventional or hybrid-electric passenger bus available on the market today. The bus significantly reduces air and noise pollution for riders and local communities, while dramatically reducing vehicle operation costs for transit agencies. The EcoRide BE35™ contains all electric components, including an electric drive motor supplied by UQM that allows greater acceleration than that of a conventional bus, combined with leading technology solutions that allow for a quiet and smooth uninterrupted ride. With up to three hours of operation and the ability to recharge in less than 10 minutes on route, Proterra’s buses can easily be incorporated into any transit agencies’ existing routes without impacting their schedules or routes while delivering a quieter, more comfortable experience to riders. Additionally, without the maintenance or fuel costs associated with conventional buses, the Proterra BE35™ achieves a 400 percent improvement in fuel economy, and greater than $300,000 savings in total lifetime operating expenses.

About Proterra Inc.

Proterra is answering the international call for efficient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible heavy-duty vehicle solutions. Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses and Class 6-8 trucks. Proterra’s initial products, a 35’ battery-electric transit bus and on-route fast charging station, have been designed from the ground up to enable a world’s first ever solution for transit agencies to replace conventional diesel buses on a one-for-one basis with all-electric buses operating 24/7. This is accomplished by combining Proterra’s light-weight composite body, highly efficient ProDriveTM, advanced TerraVoltTM energy storage system and on-route rooftop FastChargingTM station to charge the bus in 5-10 minutes. The vehicle achieves between 18 and 29 miles per gallon diesel fuel equivalent fully loaded with 68 passengers – 500% better than a comparable diesel bus.

Electric Cars? What About Trucks and Buses?

August 03, 2010

With all the hype about electric cars like the Fisker, the Leaf and the Volt, very little attention is being paid to the possibility of greening up heavy vehicles like trucks and buses. This is ironic, because heavy vehicles are, in some ways, a better fit for hybrid and electric technology.

This is one of the lessons learned from a panel on clean transportation at the recent Cleantech Open conference. The panelists discussed one of the main impediments to consumer adoption of electric cars: range anxiety, or the fear of your battery running down before you’ve reached your destination. Buses, trucks and tractors don’t really face this problem, since they generally have fairly limited ranges anyway. The panelists noted that the owners of city buses, or delivery trucks, usually know exactly how many miles they drive each day. As long as the battery range of an electric vehicle is greater than the length of a bus route, it could make sense to go electric. Long haul buses and trucks are a different matter, of course.

Two of the panelists were employees at Proterra, which makes electric drive trains for buses and trucks, so of course they were supporters of going electric, but other companies are on the heavy vehicle bandwagon. Even as iconic a diesel tractor producer as Caterpillar has produced a hybrid version of its D7 earth mover. John Deere has a hybrid lawn mower aimed at golf courses. In San Francisco, the city bus system has rolled out hybrid buses from Daimler, which has thus far sold over 3,000 hybrid buses in North America.

Silicon Valley Cleantech Heavyweight Joins Proterra

June 16, 2010

Superlawyer’ Marc Gottschalk Strengthens Executive Team at Heavy-Duty EV Manufacturer; Accelerates Development of Company’s Transit Bus Business

Golden, Colo. – June 16, 2010 – Proterra Inc. (www.proterra.com), a leading maker of clean commercial transit solutions including zero-emission city buses, today announced that Marc Gottschalk, co-chair of the Energy and Clean Technology practice at Silicon Valley powerhouse law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati (WSGR), has joined the company as Chief Business Development Officer and General Counsel.

Proterra is a Colorado-based manufacturer of zero-emission, heavy-duty vehicle systems and its groundbreaking, fast-charge, battery electric transit bus, the EcoRide. Mr. Gottschalk, named a California Superlawyer by Law and Politics Magazine from 2006-2010, is one of a small inner circle in Silicon Valley who pioneered the US cleantech sector and helped shape it into a new driver for global innovation and economic growth. WSGR’s cleantech practice has helped dozens of innovative cleantech companies, including Proterra, go to market since 2003. Mr. Gottschalk is also a cofounder of the Cleantech Open, the world leading organization that provides all the resources inventors and entrepreneurs need to take their cleantech innovations from concept to operating business.

Mr. Gottschalk will remain as a California-based advisor to WSGR and will also remain on the board of the Cleantech Open.

“When viewed through my decade of cleantech experience, it is clear that Proterra has stand-out technology, management and market potential. I look forward to helping make their transformational, cost saving, zero emission bus the standard at transit agencies around the world,” said Mr. Gottschalk. “My work building a leading cleantech practice at WSGR has granted me unrivaled insight into how to help Proterra accomplish our business mission.”

“Marc is a vital addition to what is already our world-class team,” said Jeffery Granato, President and CEO of Proterra. “He has been giving us great business advice as our lawyer for a number of years and now we get his full attention and enthusiasm at a very important time in the company’s growth.”

Proterra is answering the international call for efficient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible heavy-duty vehicle solutions. Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems and transit buses. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses and Class 6-8 trucks. Proterra’s initial product, a 35’ all-electric transit bus, has been designed from the ground up to enable a world’s first ever solution for transit agencies to replace convention diesel buses on a one-for-one basis with all-electric buses operating 24/7. This is accomplished by combining Proterra’s light-weight composite body, highly efficient ProDriveTM, advanced TerraVoltTM energy storage system and on-route rooftop FastChargingTM station to charge the bus in 5-10 minutes. The vehicle achieves between 18 and 29 miles per gallon diesel fuel equivalent fully loaded with 68 passengers – 500% better than a comparable diesel bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology please visit: www.proterra.com

Proterra founder Dale Hill: electric bus charges, discharges on San Francisco hills

June 15, 2010

Designed by Proterra, this bus can go 30 to 40 miles at 11 to 13 miles per hour before it needs a recharge, which it gets by passing under a contact arm at a bus stop or a bus yard.

The batteries can be recharged in under 10 minutes, according to Proterra founder Dale Hill.

I rode a Proterra bus last year around downtown San Jose (no, they did not let me drive), and thought the ride was smooth, clean and quiet — no belching tail pipe or roaring engine. Also, like the Tesla Roadster, the bus slowed immediately when the driver took his foot off the accelerator.

Hill said the bus isn’t a retrofitted diesel bus, which would make it heavier, but a fully electric vehicle that includes a storage system and a drive train that can work with an auxiliary power unit if necessary to extend the bus’s range. Proterra is also part of a pilot project for the Defense Department on hydrogen fuel cells and the hydrogen energy cycle. There’s a little more information on the bus’s technology on Proterra’s Web site.

Hill also told me he got the idea for the bus four or five years ago after the chief technology officer of MUNI (the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency) took him for a drive up Telegraph Hill. (This hill is where Coit Tower stands. It’s also home to the flock of wild parrots that appeared in the 2007 movie, “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill”).

“With a fast charge, if you put your thinking cap on for a minute, we can run the bus up the hill on battery power,” Hill said. “Coming down will recharge it — you could have an arm that catches the trolley and recharges it while it runs down Market Street.”

One goal last year was to get the cost of the bus down from over $1 million to below $300,000, and it looks like Proterra is making progress — last week the company announced a $20 million investment from MK Energy and Infrastructure to manufacture the buses, starting next year, in Greenville, SC.

Hill says Proterra will use the same technology to manufacture electric school buses, delivery vans and trucks.

Proterra receives $20M from cleantech investor

June 10, 2010

On Wednesday, Proterra Inc, a provider of clean commercial transit solutions including zero emission city buses, announced $20 million in funding from cleantech investor, MK Energy and Infrastructure LLC (MK E+I). The money will fund Proterra’s efforts to provide cleaner and more economical public transportation options to transit agencies in the U.S. and internationally.

MK E+I’s investment will accelerate the construction of Proterra’s first full-scale manufacturing plant in Greenville, S.C., which will break ground later this year and have capacity to make 2,500 EcoRide BE-35 buses annually and employ 1,300 workers over the next five years. Funds will also be used to advance Proterra’s clean technology research and to promote policies in support of clean commuting.

At the Greenville plant, Proterra will manufacture its transit bus, the EcoRide BE-35, a patented, zero emission, fast-charge, battery-electric transit bus that replaces traditional diesel buses. The EcoRide BE-35 achieves 500 percent greater fuel efficiency than conventional diesel buses and more than 400 percent greater efficiency than the most advanced hybrid transit buses traveling the roads today, according to the Federal Transit Administration sponsored Altoona, Penn. Bus Testing Center.

Proterra Nabs $20M to Build Green Bus Plant, Sway Policy

June 09, 2010

Cranking out electric buses, developing new transit tech and swaying policies in favor of “clean commuting.” Those are the main initiatives that startup Proterra says it plans to undertake with $20 million in new funding.

Formerly called Mobile Energy Solutions, Proterra makes drive components and energy storage systems for electric and hybrid buses, delivery vans and other commercial models, as well as the vehicles themselves, and on Wednesday it announced this new investment from MK Energy and Infrastructure.

Based in Golden, Colo., 6-year-old Proterra first announced plans back in February to set up an assembly plant in Greenville, S.C., by 2011. CEO Jeff Granato said at the time that the plant would be the company’s first full-scale facility. Today the company announced that it aims to break ground on the project in 2010, ultimately gaining capacity at the site to make 2,500 units per year of its EcoRide BE-35 (battery electric, 35 feet long) bus model for deployment in the U.S. and internationally.

According to a report last month from The Greenville News, Proterra now expects the Greenville project to cost $30 million to $36 million, down from earlier estimates of between $42 million and $68 million. The company has reportedly set up temporary manufacturing in the area (with the city of Greenville paying for the lease) and plans to produce six buses there this year while the new, larger plant is under construction.

The BE-35 bus uses an electric propulsion system from UQM Technologies, and it has a lightweight composite body. Proterra has designed the vehicle to juice up within 10 minutes at fast-charging stations (pictured at right) placed along the bus route.

Amid unprecedented levels of public funding for green vehicle and component manufacturing projects, it has become all too common for greentech startups to tout grand manufacturing plans — only to sit in limbo awaiting approval of federal funding. But a Proterra spokesperson told us in February that the company’s South Carolina project would be different. A private equity investment was already “being finalized,” she said, and incentives had already been secured at the state and local level for the project.

Proterra could also benefit indirectly from government funds that have already been doled out. Earlier this year the company told us that as many as 21 transit agencies around the country had requested government funding for the purchase of more than $400 million worth of Proterra vehicles.

MK Energy and Infrastructure invests $20 million in EV maker Proterra

June 09, 2010

The Golden, Colo.-based company makes commercial “clean transportation,” specializing in zero-emission transit buses for both domestic and international markets.

Proterra says the investment will be used to accelerate the construction of its first full-scale manufacturing plant in Greenville, S.C., on track to break ground later this year.

Once finished, it will be able to make 2,500 EcoRide BE-35 buses per year, employing 1,300 workers over the next five years.

Proterra also said the funding would be used for clean technology research and clean commuting policy support.

“MK E+I provides strategic experience to Proterra as we grow in the United States and look at global expansion,” Proterra CEO Jeffery Granato said in a statement.

Proterra’s EcoRide BE-35is a zero emission, fast-charge, battery-electric transit bus intended to replace conventional diesel buses. Proterra claims the EcoRide manages 500 percent greater fuel efficiency than diesel buses and 400 percent greater efficiency “than the most advanced hybrid transit buses traveling the roads today.”

So what’s in it for MK E+I? The firm invests in infrastructure assets, advanced stage clean energy tech and late-stage renewable energy projects, and it’s no secret that the firm sees Proterra expanding across the U.S. — and onward to Europe and Latin America.

Proterra gets $20M investment to support S.C. plant construction

June 09, 2010

Proterra Inc., a Golden-based maker of zero-emission buses, said Wednesday it has received $20 million in private funding that will support its previously announced plans to build a manufacturing plant in South Carolina.

The funding comes from “clean tech” investor MK Energy and Infrastructure LLC (MK E+I).

Proterra (website here) said in will break ground on the Greenville, S.C., later this year. It plans to make up to 2,500 of its EcoRide BE-35 buses each year and employ 1,300 workers over the next five years at the plant, which the company estimates will cost $30 million to $36 million.

The EcoRide BE-35 is a fast-charge, battery-electric transit bus that is designed to replace traditional diesel buses. Proterra claims it offers five times greater fuel efficiency than conventional diesel buses and four times the efficiency of hybrid transit buses.

The company said it will also use the MK E+I to advance research “and to promote policies in support of clean commuting.”

“Our partnership with MK E+I will help us bring new jobs to Greenville and environmentally friendly buses to transit agencies and communities around the world, allowing them to slash fuel costs and significantly reduce noise and air pollution,” Proterra President and CEO Jeffery Granato said. “MK E+I provides strategic experience to Proterra as we grow in the United States and look at global expansion. Together we will drive the transit industry into the next era of clean commuting.”

Proterra was formerly known as Mobile Energy Solutions. Early last year, the company had considered opening a manufacturing plant in San Jose, Calif.

Heavy-Duty EV Manufacturer Proterra Gets $20 Million in Funding from MK Energy and Infrastructure

June 09, 2010

Market Leader in Zero Emission Transit Buses Will Use Funds to Create Jobs at New South Carolina Facility, Help Municipalities Reduce Fuel Costs and Dependence on Oil

GOLDEN, Colo., June 9, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Proterra Inc, a leading maker of clean commercial transit solutions including zero emission city buses, today announced $20 million in funding from cleantech investor, MK Energy and Infrastructure, LLC (MK E+I). The money will fund Proterra's efforts to provide cleaner and more economical public transportation options to transit agencies in the United States and internationally.

MK E+I's investment in Proterra will accelerate its construction of Proterra's first full-scale manufacturing plant in Greenville, S.C., which will break ground later this year and have capacity to make 2,500 EcoRide BE-35 buses annually and employ 1,300 workers over the next five years. Funds will also be used to advance Proterra's clean technology research and to promote policies in support of clean commuting.

"Our partnership with MK E+I will help us bring new jobs to Greenville and environmentally friendly buses to transit agencies and communities around the world, allowing them to slash fuel costs and significantly reduce noise and air pollution," Proterra President and CEO Jeffery Granato said. "MK E+I provides strategic experience to Proterra as we grow in the United States and look at global expansion. Together we will drive the transit industry into the next era of clean commuting."

At the Greenville plant, Proterra will manufacture its leading transit bus, the EcoRide BE-35, a patented, zero emission, fast-charge, battery-electric transit bus that replaces traditional diesel buses. The EcoRide BE-35 achieves 500% greater fuel efficiency than conventional diesel buses and more than 400% greater efficiency than the most advanced hybrid transit buses traveling the roads today, according to the Federal Transit Administration sponsored Altoona, Pennsylvania Bus Testing Center. Over a 12-year lifecycle, Proterra buses will save an average of $400,000 per bus in fuel costs as compared to a conventional diesel bus and almost $300,000 when compared to advanced hybrid buses. The neighborhood friendly EcoRide BE-35 reduces noise pollution to a fraction of that produced by today's traditional diesel buses. Moreover, if every diesel transit bus in the United States were replaced with an EcoRide BE-35, it would reduce consumption of fossil fuels by approximately 493 Million gallons per year - more than the amount consumed each year by every single car in the state of Colorado or South Carolina.

"The performance of Proterra's vehicles, combined with the results of our comprehensive analysis of Proterra's innovative energy storage, drive and related vehicle platforms, made the investment decision easy," said Ignacio Iribarren, managing director of MK E+I. "Our goal is to help Proterra vehicles become the standard in the United States and, eventually, in Europe and Latin America."

Proterra is answering the international call for efficient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible heavy-duty vehicle solutions. Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Proterra is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty drive and energy storage systems, vehicle control systems and complete transit buses. Proterra's systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses and Class 6-8 trucks. Proterra's initial product, a 35' battery-electric transit bus, has been designed from the ground up to enable a world's first ever solution for transit agencies to replace conventional diesel buses on a one-for-one basis with all-electric buses operating 24/7. This is accomplished by combining Proterra's light-weight composite body, highly efficient ProDrive(TM), advanced TerraVolt(TM) energy storage system and on-route rooftop FastCharging(TM) station to charge the bus in 5-10 minutes. The vehicle achieves between 18 and 29 miles per gallon diesel fuel equivalent fully loaded with 68 passengers - 500% better than a comparable diesel bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology please visit: www.proterra.com

MK Energy and Infrastructure (MK E+I) was established by The Michael Kenwood Group, LLC in July 2009 to develop business opportunities in proprietary infrastructure assets, advanced stage clean energy technology, and late stage development and operating renewable energy projects and infrastructure, both in OECD countries and in emerging markets. For more information on MK Energy and Infrastructure please visit www.mkenergyandinfrastructure.com

Fuel Cell Bus Takes a Starring Role in the BurbankBus Fleet

May 03, 2010

BurbankBus, which provides transit services in and around the City of Burbank, California, has four fixed- route transit lines operating during morning and evening peak rush-hour periods. These routes primarily transport commuters between major transit hubs and the city’s employment centers.

Commuters traveling into the area arrive at one of the city’s two Metrolink rail stations or at LA Metro’s North Hollywood station, where the Red and Orange Lines terminate. BurbankBus service connects these stations with the Media District, downtown, and Golden State areas. Ridership has grown substantially since the fleet converted to a fixed-route service in 2005, and a total of 478,000 riders per year are expected by the fall of 2010.

The City of Burbank has been proactive in implementing clean technologies across its operations. The BurbankBus fixed-route fleet consists of 17 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. This fleet has been running on 100% CNG for about two years. The city’s trash trucks are also run on CNG, and its light-duty vehicle fleet includes battery electrics, hybrid electrics, and several hydrogen-fueled Toyota Prius automobiles.

In 2006, the city announced the start of a zero-emission bus demonstration project funded primarily through a grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The city has partnered with Proterra, a Colorado-based bus manufacturer, to bring its first fuel cell bus to the area. The bus design features a battery-dominant plug-in hybrid configuration consisting of batteries and fuel cells; the design was developed under the Federal Transit Administration’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Placing its second fuel cell bus in Burbank gives Proterra a West Coast test market for the technology; its first bus is operating in Columbia, South Carolina.

Proterra’s fuel cell bus design features a 35-foot, lightweight composite body that seats a similar number of passengers as a 40-foot conventional bus. The hybrid system in the bus is an electric drive. A lithium titanate battery pack provides primary power to the motor; supplemental charging is provided by two 16-kilowatt Hydrogenics fuel cell power modules and by regenerative braking while the bus is in operation. The battery pack and fuel cells are controlled by on-board computers to regulate the power needs of the bus for optimal efficiency. At the end of the day, the bus can be fully charged by plugging it into a 220-volt outlet.

BurbankBus plans to operate the fuel cell bus on all of its routes to fully test the vehicle’s capabilities in a variety of route and operating conditions. The agency’s goal is to evaluate the technology’s performance and determine whether these kinds of buses should be included in future purchases.

In-Service Evaluation
BurbankBus is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies (FCT) Program to evaluate the bus. The agency will run the bus in revenue service for at least one year. During that time, DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will collect and analyze performance and operations data so that researchers can better understand the status of the technology and determine any future development work that needs to be done. Information gathered during the demonstration will also help fleets make informed purchase decisions. Results will be fed back into the research and development process to focus future
resources, as appropriate.

“The City of Burbank has always prided itself on exploring alternative sources of fuel, and this project is another example of our Council’s commitment to sustainability.” — Michael S. Flad, City Manager, Burbank CA

Project Partners

BurbankBus - Operates the bus; CARB - Provides primary project funding; Proterra - Manufactures the bus and provides warranty support; Hydrogenics - Supplies the fuel cell; DOE /NREL - Provides data collection and reporting

Leslie Eudy
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
303-275-4412
leslie.eudy@nrel.gov

Web sites:
BurbankBus: www.burbankbus.org
CARB: www.arb.ca.gov
Proterra: www.proterra.com
Hydrogenics: www.hydrogenics.com
NREL fuel cell bus publications: www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/proj_fc_bus_eval.html

Original Story can be found at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/47893.pdf

Hydrogen hybrid bus ferried people at Winter Olympics

March 12, 2010

As buses go, it looks pretty cool. We're not sure that it's terribly practical but, hey, it's a start. It's the hydrogen hybrid bus that used to ferry people around during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. It was shown to media yesterday at an event in British Columbia.

Altairnano Batteries Make Proterra A Magic Bus

November 04, 2009

Fuel Cell Hybrid-Powered bus visits DOT headquarters

October 27, 2009

Fuel Cell Hybrid-Powered bus visits DOT headquarters

Imagine a bus that runs entirely on battery power for 3 hours then recharges in less than 10 minutes. Imagine a bus that cuts fuel costs to transit agencies from $40,000 a year to $4,000. Imagine a bus with no emissions.

That bus is the Fuel Cell Hybrid-Powered transit vehicle that visited DOT headquarters yesterday. And it shows incredible promise for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Proterra, maker of this bus and its Battery Electric counterpart, is a small company doing big things. And when you talk to founder Dale Hill you see why--the man loves what he is doing, and he and his team are working hard to deliver the transit-ready, fuel-sipping buses America needs.

We all know that transit is a relatively green way to get where we need to go. But to take a mode like transit and make it even greener by reducing fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions, well, that's just exciting.

And that's what FTA's National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCBP) has helped the folks at Proterra do so successfully. Credit should also go to the Center for Transportation and the Evironment (CTE), an Atlanta-based consortium chosen by FTA to manage this project.

Why is it exciting to be in transportation right now? Because of projects like the Fuel Cell Hybrid-Powered and Battery Electric buses. Because of groups like the CTE that organize businesses, universities, and government agencies into effective public-private partnerships that make a difference.

Original article can be found at: http://fastlane.dot.gov/2009/10/fuel-cell-hybridpowered-bus-visits-dot-headquarters.html

The Ideal Urban Bus

October 16, 2009

Proterra selected for U.S. Department of Defense Hydrogen Infrastructure Pilot Project

July 09, 2009

Center for Transportation & the Environment Secures Proterra’s Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus for High Profile Pilot Project

GOLDEN, CO, JULY 9, 2009 –Proterra LLC, the pioneering innovator and manufacturer of zero emission commercial transportation solutions from city transit buses to class 4-8 trucks, today announced its role in a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) pilot project designed to test an end-to-end clean hydrogen energy cycle. Proterra’s bus will be used as part of the pilot to demonstrate the economic, operational and environmental benefits of fuel cell technology in a full sized transit bus. Led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), the pilot project will include all elements of a clean hydrogen energy cycle, from local hydrogen generation to bulk hydrogen storage to hydrogen load in the form of fuel-cell powered forklifts and Proterra’s fuel cell powered bus.

Proterra’s plug-in, battery-electric bus with hydrogen fuel cell range extension will play a key role in the two-year long pilot, and will be used to transport tens of thousands of staff between Ft. Lewis and McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington. Allowing for significant cost and environmental benefits, Proterra’s revolutionary TerraVoltTM Energy Storage technology can be completely charged in under 10 minutes, representing a dramatic improvement in the industry.

The project will include the historic testing of an end-to-end clean hydrogen energy cycle, including: A renewable energy supply in the form of recovered waste water treatment plant digester gas, Local hydrogen generation via digester gas cleanup and reformation, Bulk hydrogen storage, transport, and dispensing; and Hydrogen load in the form of 19 fuel cell-powered electric forklifts and Proterra’s 35’ shuttle bus. Proterra joins highly respected leaders in emerging clean technology for the Ft. Lewis pilot, including Gas Technology Institute, Plug Power, and Air Products and Chemicals. The project is the third in a series of Defense Logistics Agency pilots designed to provide the Department of Defense with the technical and business case data it needs to support its plans for hydrogen infrastructure, enabling the achievement of its Energy Policy Act (EPACT 2005) objectives.

“We are honored to be involved in the Department of Defense pilot at Ft. Lewis, particularly as it will study all elements of a clean hydrogen energy cycle from energy supply and generation to storage, to its ultimate use to power zero emissions transit,” said Jeff Granato, CEO, Proterra. “The lessons learned from this project will not only help the DoD meet its long term environmental and economic demands, it will also provide much needed insights to federal and state governments looking for long-lasting clean energy solutions.”

The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is a nonprofit, 501 (c)(3) organization that develops technologies and implements solutions to achieve energy and environmental sustainability. Since its founding in 1993, CTE has managed a portfolio of over $110 million in federal, state, and local cost-shared research, development, and demonstration projects involving more than 450 organizations in the advanced transportation technology field. CTE has facilitated and leveraged funding for its projects and initiatives from the U.S.

Answering the international call for efficient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible transit solutions, Colorado based Porterra has been designing and manufacturing the world's most efficient commercial vehicle technologies since 2004. With hybrid and battery-electric buses that are built from the ground-up in Colorado, Proterra has patented clean transit technology serving the commercial sector with solutions for city transit buses to class 4-8 trucks.

Proterra: Battery Dominant

February 23, 2009

Colorado’s Proterra (the former Mobile Energy Solutions) is showcasing a lightweight 35-foot bus with a battery dominant design it says allows operators to dispense with fuel engines altogether. Proterra uses a UQM Technologies PowerPhase 150 drivetrain and lithium titanate batteries from Altairnano in the EcoRide BE35 vehicle.

Battery-only range is stated at 25 to 40 miles, which translates to about two hours. Because the Altairnano batteries can be charged is just ten minutes, the vehicle can do a daily transit duty day, charging during drivers’ regular breaks, says Proterra business development manager Joshua Goldman. The EcoRide BE35 bus, which recently completed a whistle-stop tour of four California cities, yields a fuel economy improvement of up to 400% compared to a conventional diesel bus, translating to upwards of $300,000 in total lifetime fuel expense savings per vehicle, Proterra says. A hydrogen version of the Proterra bus, with a Hydrogenics fuel cell, and full plug-in charge capability, is to be unveiled in Burbank, Calif. late this spring.

“The significance of this milestone program is that we are able to harness the latest transportation technology and put it into service for the public good,” Johnathan Frank, administrative analyst with the transportation department of the city of Burbank, says in a release. “Zero-emissions will help the environment, which is a critical issue in Southern California. We’re excited to be the first program of its kind in the state.”

The Burbank placement is backed by the California Air Resource Board, with support from the California Energy Commission and Federal Transit Administration. Proterra emphasizes the flexibility of the battery dominate design, noting that its “TerraVolt” battery system can be fully charged in less than ten minutes, and is “the longest lasting energy storage system available for heavy duty applications.”

Proterra claims software advantages to its “ProDrive” vehicle control allowing it to operate in battery-electric mode or with any small auxiliary power unit (engine or APU) to extend vehicle range. “California is a high priority for Proterra since five of the top ten most polluted cities in America are located there,” Proterra president and CEO Jeff Granato says in a release citing the American Lung Association’s State of the Air: 2008 report.

“The solution is in our hands to help cities reduce air and noise pollution, and the state and federal policies are also in place to begin to take clean commuting from a vision to a reality in 2009,” Granato said. “We’re excited to introduce the EcoRide BE35 to California as an immediate next step transit agencies can take to achieve emissions free transit.”

“Working with the City of Burbank will give this new technology a wonderful boost,” said business development director Joshua Goldman. “This real-life demonstration within a thriving public transportation system will give us the learning tools to advance this emerging and much-needed alternative technology,” he said.

Originally printed in the February 23, 2009 Issue of Fleets & Fuels (www.fleetsandfuels.com)

Proterra, Joshua Goldman, 858-449-4629; jgoldman@proterraonline.com; www.proterraonline.com

Altairnano, Jeff Yambrick, 775-856-2500; jyambrick@altairnano.com; www.altairnano.com

City of Burbank, Johnathan Frank, 818-238-5180; jfrank@ci.burbank.ca.us; www.burbankbus.org

Hydrogenics (California), Kevin Harris, 661-253-2593; kharris@hydrogenics.com; www.hydrogenics.com

Battery-powered bus offers a quiet ride

February 07, 2009

Deborah Gage, Chronicle Staff Writer | San Francisco Chronicle | February 7, 2009 04:00 AM

The bus demonstrated on Friday can go for 30 to 40 miles before it needs recharging, and can recharge in 10 minutes.

Proterra's staff has all of the expertise to build the bus, Hill said, which means it can run more efficiently because it's lighter than a standard bus that has been retrofitted to be electric.

Right now the bus is expensive - around $2 million - but Hill expects to be able to bring the price down to $250,000 to $300,000 within two or three years, once battery technology matures.

Although that's still a higher price tag than a diesel-powered bus, it's less expensive to run and could pay for itself faster. Current city buses burn about $40,000 to $45,000 worth of diesel fuel per year, he said, around 10 times the cost of electricity to run a battery-powered bus for a year.

Hill said he designed the bus with San Francisco in mind after a city official took him for a drive up Telegraph Hill and asked him for a bus that ran quietly and didn't belch smoke.

"If you put your thinking cap on, we can run up the hill on battery power, will recharge when we're coming down, and then have an arm that catches the trolley and finish recharging while we're running down Market Street," he said.

Officials in San Jose, meanwhile, want the manufacturing jobs that Proterra could bring. "It would fit in perfectly with the mayor's green vision," said John Weis, assistant executive director of the San Jose Redevelopment Agency.

Weis said his agency is working to introduce Proterra to "as many potential buyers as possible" and is also talking to three other electric transportation companies.

Friday's demonstration was the first stop for Proterra on a 10-city tour of California. The company put together a coalition of cities with money from Sacramento that supports clean transit.

Hill was also in Washington this week asking Congress to include money in the stimulus package for small companies developing green transportation.

Proterra Brings Future of Green Commercial Transit To California Cities With Zero Emission Clean Bus

February 06, 2009

San Jose, CA - Proterra, the leading innovator and manufacturer of clean commercial transit solutions from city transit buses to class 4-8 trucks, kicked-off its first ever California Clean Bus Tour in San Jose with the unveiling of its zero emission fast-charge battery-electric transit bus. The EcoRide BE35 is designed to help communities significantly reduce air and noise pollution while dramatically reducing vehicle operating costs.

After the initial launch in San Jose, Proterra will make stops in selected California cities including Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Proterra will be meeting with energy, environmental, and municipal stakeholders as it introduces its clean transit solutions to help the state meet its emission reduction goals. The EcoRide BE35 results in up to a 400 percent improvement in fuel economy, and up to $310,000 savings in total lifetime fuel expenses as compared to a conventional diesel bus and over $15 million in savings for a transit bus fleet of 50.

"The fact is, emissions free transit is not a 'nice to have,' it is a must have for clean, healthy communities across California and the U.S.," said Dale Hill, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Proterra. "That is why we're thrilled to bring our clean transit solutions to California - where transit agencies need an economical solution available today to make progress toward recent emissions standards passed by the California Air Resources Board."

Built from the ground-up as a battery-electric zero emission transit vehicle in Colorado, Proterra's transit solution boasts innovative advancements that significantly reduce the lifetime cost of ownership including:

TerraVolt™ Energy Storage System - the industry's only system that can be fully charged in less than 10 minutes; and the longest lasting energy storage system available for heavy duty applications; Flexible ProDrive™ and vehicle control system that can operate in battery-electric mode or with any small auxiliary power unit (APU) to extend vehicle range when needed; All-electric components optimized through vehicle management systems to rduce energy usage throughout the vehicle's operating cycle; Regenerative braking system utilizing the UQM PowerPhase 150 that enables the EcoRide BE35 to recapture over 90% of the vehicle’s kinetic energy available during braking; andSophisticated battery management system operates at the 'cell' level to optimize energy efficiency and system life.

Proterra's focus on the California market is directly related to the state's high pollution levels, much of which are tracked back to diesel engines. The Clean Air Task Force notes that by reducing diesel fine particle emissions 50 percent by 2010, 75 percent by 2015, and 85 percent by 2020 would save nearly 100,000 American lives between now and 2030.

"California is a high priority for Proterra since five of the top 10 most polluted cities in America are located there, according to the American Lung Association’s 2008 State of the Air Report," said Jeff Granato, President and CEO, Proterra. "The solution is in our hands to help cities reduce air and noise pollution, and the state and federal policies are also in place to begin to take clean commuting from a vision to a reality in 2009. We’re excited to introduce the EcoRide BE35 to California as an immediate next step transit agencies can take to achieve emissions free transit."

Too Much! The Electric Bus!

February 06, 2009

Proterra LLC Introduces HFC35 Alternative-Fuel Transit Bus

October 02, 2008

Rising Fuel Costs and Economic Woes Spur Interest In Efficient, Clean Alternative Fuel Vehicle

Proterra LLC is showcasing the prototype of its new HFC35, a 35’ composite body, zero emissions, battery-dominant hybrid-electric transit bus at the 2008 APTA Expo, in San Diego, CA, October 5th-8th. This advanced bus is designed to accommodate a variety of auxiliary power units (APU’s) including diesel, gasoline and CNG; the bus featured at the APTA Expo will employ two Hydrogenics 16 kW hydrogen fuel cell APU’s and a UQM® PowerPhase® 150 electric propulsion system. The APTA Expo will be the first public opportunity to view this revolutionary vehicle.

Proterra developed the HFC35 hydrogen fuel cell hybrid electric bus with funding from the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Designed and built in America, this is the first-ever ground-up design of a light-weight, energy-efficient, alternative-fuel hybrid transit bus. "This vehicle truly represents a major leap forward in public transit," said Dale Hill, Proterra’s CEO. "Instead of retrofitting a conventional diesel bus, we have a revolutionary ground-up design. This vehicle's tailpipe produces only pure water as its propulsion system's byproduct. It provides the most cost-effective path for hydrogen-fueled zero-emission buses."

The TerraVolt™ fast-charging energy storage system, including proprietary battery modules, battery management and energy optimization systems, is among the most innovative features of the HFC35. Designed and integrated right into Proterra's composite body floor system, the TerraVolt™ system can be recharged by either using a Proterra rapid charge station for only minutes at route layovers, by plugging in overnight, or during operation from any form of APU. TerraVolt™ also has the ability to solely power a full battery-electric transit bus. This unique energy storage system is good for 10,000 total discharge cycles (estimated to last the life of the bus). Vehicle operators can realize up to $350,000 savings in total fuel expense savings over the 12-year life of the bus as compared to a conventional diesel bus. The all-composite vehicle body is 34' 9" in length and seats 37 passengers.

"Transit officials across America are struggling with the challenge of meeting new emissions standards while facing higher fuel costs on smaller budgets," said Jeff Granato, Proterra's president. "Our line of hybrid and battery-electric buses are the solution – they are both economical and earth-friendly. Finally, a solution that brings significant cost savings in the purchase and operation of an advanced zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell bus."

In addition to the FTA, Proterra is grateful to a number of other vendors and suppliers for their support in the development and construction of this prototype. Among them (in alphabetical order) are:

The prototype on display at Expo will be completed and expected to be put into service in the First Quarter of 2009 on a FTA-sponsored nationwide trial starting in Columbia, South Carolina.

Mobile Energy Solutions, LLC changes name to Proterra

June 24, 2008

Advanced technology vehicle manufacturer Mobile Energy Solutions, LLC, announced today that the company's name is changing to Proterra. Proterra means 'for the earth' in Latin, which addresses the company's customers' needs for clean energy transportation and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.

Based in Golden, Colorado, Proterra manufactures the world's first hybrid- and all-electric, all-composite body transit vehicles built from the ground up to offer dramatic improvements in fuel efficiency while generating ultra-low or no emissions. Proterra offers all-battery and battery dominant vehicles using an array of auxiliary power units, including bio-diesel, gasoline, compressed natural gas, and hydrogen fuel cells.

"Proterra's mission is producing the world's most energy efficient transit vehicles while offering the lowest lifetime cost of ownership," said President Jeff Granato. "Our vehicles are the right choice for these times of skyrocketing fuel costs and economic uncertainty.

The company was founded in 2004 by the principals who designed, engineered and manufactured the 36 EcoMark 1, 45' CNG-fueled hybrid-electric shuttle buses built for Denver's 16th St. Mall. These buses are now in their eighth year of revenue service, and have carried over 130 million passengers. Dale Hill, Proterra's Chief Executive Officer, added, "The EcoMark buses produce only a fraction of the pollution of a comparably sized conventional bus while carrying twice as many passengers. This fleet continues to be the largest and most successful alternative fueled hybrid vehicle electric bus fleet in the world."

Joshua Goldman Joins Mobile Energy Solutions As Director of Business Development

April 25, 2008

Mobile Energy Solutions, LLC., is proud to welcome Joshua J. Goldman as Director of Business Development. Joshua comes to Mobile Energy Solutions with over 10 years of experience with electric and hybrid-electric drive systems.

"Joshua will provide key contributions to our marketing and expansion of our business relationships, particularly in the areas of mass public transportation, school bus transportation, port goods movement and shuttle bus services," said Dale Hill, CEO of Mobile Energy Solutions. "We are delighted to have him on board."

Well known in the industry for his role in the development of gasoline hybrid transit buses, Joshua is a leading technology expert in the transit hybrid-electric field. For seven years Joshua was employed by ISE Corp., serving in various capacities including Manager of Engine Development for hybrid applications, Manager of Technical Training and Manager of Heavy Duty Certifications. He is a member of numerous APTA, SAE, FTA and CARB committees, including vice chair for the APTA Clean Propulsion Committee, and has published papers for and spoken at numerous EVS, APTA and SAE events.

Grant will pay for greener buses; Three infusions of money will help the city upgrade and improve it

June 27, 2007

AIRPORT DISTRICT - Burbank Bus will receive more than $3 million in transportation grants to replace older vehicles, add two new buses and integrate a new hybrid-electric fuel cell bus into the fleet.

Grant funding has partly fueled the growth of Burbank's bus system, which has seen route expansion and significant ridership increases in recent years, transportation manager Andrew Carrasco said.

And given the amount of transportation funding available to municipalities, Burbank has enjoyed a generous portion from agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority - to fund fleet expansion - and the California Air Resources Board - to fund experimental vehicles that run on alternative fuels, he said.

"It's significant over a number of categories," Carrasco said. "Obviously, not every city gets their proposal accepted; we've been really fortunate - we're hitting essentially three out of three this season."

The first grant, $210,000 from Metro, will allow Burbank Bus to replace five of its vehicles, cycling older ones out of the fleet, he said.

The second installment, a $649,000 Metro grant, will allow Burbank Bus to purchase two brand new buses, Carrasco said.

Proceeds from a third grant of $1.3 million from the Air Resources Board will go toward a fuel cell bus, a vehicle that is primarily battery-powered and relies fuel-cell technology, he said.

"It holds the same amount of passengers as a 40-foot bus, but it's only 35-feet long because it's got no engine compartment," he said. "It's all electricity, essentially, and the hydrogen fuel cell creates more electricity to power the batteries."

The hybrid buses will also meet Americans with Disability Act requirements and offer wireless Internet access on board, he added.

Advancements like these reflect how far Burbank Bus has come since its inception, City Manager Mary Alvord said.

The line's first service included sending a cab company to shuttle disabled residents to doctor's appointments, she said.

"We would have situations when a cab would take them, say, to downtown Los Angeles and then just leave them," she said.

But as the system grew into a full-scale bus line with five routes, its reach in the community has provided a valuable alternative to car travel, Alvord said.

"I think it's got to keep growing," she said. "All you have to do is look at our freeways and the madness of people sitting on freeways. Eventually you have to start to look at alternative modes of transportation."

FTA Awards $5.67 Million to Demonstrate Economical Hybrid-Electric Fuel Cell Bus

October 13, 2006

Mobile Energy Solutions, LLC is pleased to announce that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has selected its integrated product development team to demonstrate an advanced hybrid-electric hydrogen fuel cell bus in Alabama, Connecticut, and South Carolina. The project, valued at $13.1 million, will achieve significant progress toward the FTA's 2015 Goals for the National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCBP) over the next four years. Leveraging the federal investment, the team is providing over 50% cost match to complete the program.

Funding for the multimillion dollar NFCBP was made possible through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) which was made public law on August 10, 2005. The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs has jurisdiction over the critical transportation reauthorization and was instrumental in ensuring transportation related program funding would be available through SAFETEA-LU. The committee is chaired by Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL).

In an official announcement, FTA Administrator James Simpson said "By funding this program, Congress has allowed the transit industry to continue its long tradition as an innovator in the areas of alternative fuels and technology. Through this national program, we can consolidate - and accelerate - the process of making hydrogen buses commercially feasible as cleaner, more energy efficient alternatives". The FTA made the announcement October 12th in California.

The team is a diverse group of 16 organizations from private industry, education and the public sector representing seven states. All members of the team are members of the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) of Atlanta, Georgia who will manage the program for FTA. In addition to Mobile Energy Solutions, team members include Innovation Drive, Sabre Engineering, Hydrogenics Corporation, Nilar Corporation, Martin Marietta Composites Division, Birmingham Jefferson County Transit, University of Alabama Birmingham, Southern Clean Fuels, Connecticut DOT, CTTRANSIT, Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, South Carolina Research Authority, University of South Carolina, Central Midlands RTA and the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition.

Mobile Energy Solutions of Golden, Colorado and their technology team, completed the baseline design of a composite bodied, battery-dominant, hybrid-electric hydrogen fuel cell bus utilizing automotive size fuel cells as part of a previous FTA-sponsored program. This technology specific vehicle will be powered exclusively by domestic energy sources; including hydrogen, grid-electricity, and renewable sources, such as wind, to further reduce conventional power source requirements.

Additionally, the demonstration buses, which will be manufactured by Mobile Energy Solutions at their new Golden Colorado facility, will produce no harmful emissions. Conventional transit buses are powered by diesel engines. Diesel emissions contain particulates that are known to cause asthma and other respiratory complications. Furthermore, particulates are believed to cause other problems, including heart disease and cancer. Diesel emissions cost the public hundred of millions of dollars annually in health care costs. These costs are compounded by other economic drains such as lost work days.

Mobile Energy Solutions, LLC, headquartered in Colorado, is a leading edge entrepreneurial company that consistently works "outside the box" in the emerging industry of high technology, ultra low emission, commercial, hybrid-electric, battery-powered and fuel cell vehicles. Founded in 2004, the principals designed, engineered and manufactured the 36 EcoMark I, 45' CNG-fueled hybrid-electric shuttle buses for the Denver 16th St. Mall which, in over six years of successful revenue service have transported 125,000,000 passengers at a daily rate of 65,000. Principals of Mobile Energy Solutions also have been involved in the design and manufacture of the Northrop/LACMTA ATTB Bus as well as the Americanization of the Irisbus Civis. For information, please visit www.mobileenergysolutions.com.

Top U.S. Transit Official Announces $49 Million in Federal Grants for Research to Make Commercially

October 12, 2006

Following a tour of SunLine Transit's Sunfuels Fueling Station in Thousand Palms, CA Federal Transit Administrator James Simpson and Congresswoman Mary Bono announced $49 million in federal grants for researchers around the country to explore new ways to make commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell buses a reality.

Three nonprofit organizations from around the country were competitively selected by the FTA to receive a share of the $49 million: the Center for Transportation and the Environment in Atlanta, the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium in Boston and Westart/CALSTART of Pasadena, California.

"By funding this program, Congress has allowed the transit industry to continue its long tradition as an innovator in the areas of alternative fuels and technology," said FTA Administrator James Simpson. "Through this national program, we can consolidate - and accelerate - the process of making hydrogen buses commercially feasible as cleaner, more energy efficient alternatives".

Simpson said that Hydrogen fuel cell buses offer zero-emissions transportation in some of the nation's most congested corridors, reducing potential health risks to the general population. Also, transit officials expect that clean, quiet, energy-efficient transit buses will enhance the attractiveness of public transportation, lead to increased ridership, and move the nation toward energy independence.

As one of the champions for the new program Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-CA) stated "The expansion and use of fuel cell and hydrogen technology is a necessary and innovative step to significantly reduce dependency on foreign oil. Americans and Congress must continue to support legislation that strengthens any efforts to diversify our nation's energy portfolio."

Another champion for the program, Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) said "Today, I welcome the progress that the FTA is making with the award of grants under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Fuel cells are an important enabling technology that has the potential to reduce America's dependency on fossil fuels. This program will help accelerate the successful commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell propulsion for the transportation industry."

Simpson noted that SunLine Transit, along with its research partners will receive $2.8 million to design and demonstrate 40-foot fuel cell buses, and to evaluate their performance in a hot desert climate. SunLine is also among those receiving $3.6 million to test the life expectancy of an existing line of fuel cell buses.

Another example on the East Coast includes the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). WMATA and with its research partners will receive $8.4 million for advanced bus development and in-service evaluation of hybrid fuel cell buses.

The multimillion dollar national grant announcement was made possible through the National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Development Program, which was part of the recently enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

Colorado Company Building New Energy-Efficient Bus

February 21, 2006

DENVER - A small Colorado company is working on a way to fulfill President Bush's alternative energy agenda by designing the next generation, hydrogen-powered bus.

The engineers at Mobile Energy Solutions are hoping to complete the model soon for a new bus powered by batteries which would be re-charged with hydrogen fuel cells.

"We believe in this project," said Phil Sweesy, vice-president of Mobile Energy Solutions. "We really want to see it come to fruition. We think it will help the country, and it's important to us."

The engineers codenamed the project "Origin One" because the buses are designed from the ground up and are supposed to be more fuel-efficient, reliable and affordable.

One of the problems the engineers faced while building their prototype was heat from on-board batteries.

"We're looking at putting a water-cooling loop into these systems that we developed for the U.S. Air Force on their hybrid vehicle program," said Robert Schmitz from Sabre Engineering.

Despite the fact that Mobile Energy Solutions is a small company they designed and built RTD's Mall Shuttle, which became one of the most successful hybrid electric bus systems in the world.

"I told my wife last night that I've never been happier in my life than being a part, a small part, of changing an entire industry in the United States," said Dale Hill, CEO of Mobile Energy Solutions.

The assembly plan for the hydrogen buses is planned to possibly be on the Coors technology site in Golden. The first hydrogen powered bus is due to roll off the assembly line in spring of 2007.

Officials in New Haven, Conn., have already ordered two of the hydrogen-powered buses and negotiations are under way with seven other U.S. transit agencies and three foreign countries.

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