States above are the 33 supplying components for the EcoRide™ BE35.

With its headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville, South Carolina, major components from Michigan, energy storage from Nevada and Indiana, advanced motors from Colorado, charging systems from California - the list goes on and on across 33 U.S. states that supply components for integration into the Proterra EcoRide™ BE35.  As of June 2012, Proterra employs approximately 120 Associates. Management plans to expand these numbers in 2012, with hopes to see continued growth over the next 5 years. Utilizing lean manufacturing practices, Proterra will continue to create jobs in its supply chain throughout South Carolina and the United Stated.  ARRA funded purchases by Foothill and VIA Transit are helping pave the way but there is still a long road ahead to get American transit to convert to zero-emission solutions. It all starts with the right incentives and adequate funding.

Government and Policy

The Proterra EcoRide™ BE35 bus allows transit agencies and other bus service providers to not only comply with federal, state and local mandates but also benefit from greenhouse gas emission limitations imposed in foreign countries as a result of the Kyoto Protocols and legislative initiatives.

In the U.S.– California has adopted the most stringent requirements on transit buses anywhere in the world requiring that 15% of vehicle fleets qualify as zero-emission buses by 2012 (California Code of Regulations Title 13 Section 2023.3).  The EcoRide™ BE35 is the only vehicle currently in service that meets these requirements and though the state is contemplating extending the deadlines, there is no indication those requirements will ever be reversed.  Equally on the radar screen is President Obama’s directive signed May 21, 2010, to administrators of federal agencies requiring them to develop and adopt mile-per-gallon requirements for heavy trucks and buses.  While such regulations may not take effect until 2014, the intention is clear that transit agencies need to be prepared to green their fleets. 

FTA 2030 Goals– Proterra already meets all of the goals the Federal Transit Administration has set forth for its preferred electric drive vehicle of the year 2030. With buses in service by 2010, we are 20 years ahead of schedule.

Internationally– Pollution-choked cities and those under requirements adopted under the Kyoto Protocols are looking for emissions free, greenhouse gas reducing solutions.  The EcoRide™ BE35 will be a vast improvement over existing technologies and in certain countries where electricity is less expensive, particularly in areas abundant hydropower or geothermal energy, will have even greater economic benefits than those described here and potentially a true net zero carbon footprint.

Thoughtful Policies Make All the Difference– Here in the U.S., policymakers have provided benefits in the way of tax credits for buyers of hybrid and electric cars and even for natural gas trucks and buses to encourage the shift to less polluting transportation and a greater reliance on domestic sources of energy.  Lost in the shuffle are any real and substantial benefits for heavy-duty EVs used by the public sector.  It’s time to change that.  Replacing all of the transit buses in the U.S. with the EcoRide™ BE35 would be the equivalent, on an annual basis, of eliminating the petroleum used by every car in the State of Colorado and would result in the elimination of 560 tons of CO₂ emissions.  That seems like something we ought to encourage.

Industry Events

The EcoRide™ (called the “Ecoliner” by Foothill Transit) was recently on display at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Public Transportation Association in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Expo took place on October 3-5, 2011 and was a great success. Myriad industry representatives in attendence were able to see the EcoRide™ live, explore what it has to offer and talk with company experts on how to Future-Proof Your Fleet with Proterra.

Proterra Events

Proterra was thrilled to be a part of this year's 2011 American Public Transportation Association's Annual Meeting and Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the Expo our EcoRide™ fast-charge battery-electric bus was on display and running! Creating little noise and zero emissions, we were able to showcase one of the many benefits of an all-electric vehicle. We were able to speak with numerous individuals from all areas of the public transit industry and look forward to the APTA EXPO, October 12-15, 2014 in Houston, Texas.  Visit www.apta.com to learn more about the American Public Transporation Association and upcoming events!