Dear Proterra Customers, Partners and Friends:

We are writing to set the record straight about mischaracterizations about our Company in recent partisan news blogs that are opposed to the widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles. We are extremely proud of the role Proterra has played in pioneering the battery-electric bus market in North America. Our zero-emission, battery-electric transit buses have displaced more than 100 million pounds of CO2 tailpipe emissions while meeting the essential transportation needs of more than 130 communities across North America.

Recent commentary about Proterra’s first-generation buses at our customer Foothill Transit in California has been twisted into an indictment of battery-electric technology. It should not be. We celebrate the forward-thinking actions of Foothill Transit over a decade ago to put the first battery-electric buses on the road in North America. These early buses were funded with Federal demonstration programs to invest in alternative fuels to build American industry, combat climate change and fight air pollution choking our communities.

We have learned what works and what needs to be improved. The commitments made by Foothill Transit and our other pioneering customers have allowed us to continually improve our transit bus, electric powertrain and charging solutions to meet the needs of our customers.

We are now on our fifth-generation battery-electric transit bus in less than ten years. We pioneered a single blade charge technology for fast-charge buses that led to the charging solutions we offer now for extended-range buses. Today, Proterra offers in-route pantograph charging solutions as well as depot-based vehicle charging. We have installed over 500 charge points and 50 megawatts of charging infrastructure across the United States, supporting hundreds of charging events every day for our customers.

Safety is at the heart of our electric transit buses and EV technology. Our battery-electric buses and battery systems are among the safest means of transportation on the market and have been rigorously tested and certified to the functional standards for safety. There has never been a fire on a customer bus related to our proprietary battery technology or powertrain.

In 2016, we hired an amazing team of battery engineers and vehicle engineers to develop our own battery technology and electric powertrain. We have invested substantially in our technology. Our battery and propulsion systems are designed for safety and incorporate state-of-the-art safety features. For more information on our battery technology and safety, visit our website here.

With over 20 million miles traveled throughout North America, Proterra buses have an exemplary safety record. Our electric transit buses have repeatedly passed rigorous safety and durability testing, including three Altoona tests for structural durability – the transportation industry’s gold standard in the United States – and independent structural testing that exceeds Altoona requirements for structural durability.

In our more than 20 million miles of service, no customer has grounded a fleet from service because of the performance of our battery systems. We stand by our comprehensive battery and powertrain warranty.

We are equally as proud of our team, now with 700 employees across the country, which is fully committed to designing and manufacturing world-class innovative technology and serving the needs of our commercial partners and transit agencies and their riders.

We value our relationship with our customers and take seriously the great trust you have placed in us. We are dedicated to providing first-class customer service and an open line of communication at all times. Should you have any questions or concerns about our products or services, please feel free to reach out to your service representative directly or contact us here.

– Proterra Inc