Our Story

Proterra was founded by Dale Hill in Golden, Colorado. Proterra began designing its initial prototype bus.

Proterra debuts its first bus, the EcoRide, at the American Public Transportation Association’s Annual Meeting.

Proterra sells its first 3 buses in 2009 to Foothill Transit in Pomona, California.

Proterra opened its first factory in Greenville, South Carolina.

Proterra expands sales, landing customers in Texas, Florida, and South Carolina.

Customer momentum continues and Proterra signs its first customer in the Northeast, Worcester WRTA.

Proterra’s EcoRide became the first heavy-duty electric transit bus to ever pass the Federal Transit Administration’s Altoona testing.

Proterra introduced the Catalyst FC, a fast charge battery configuration option.

Proterra surpasses 50 buses sold.

Ryan Popple was named CEO of Proterra.

Proterra buses purchased by King County Metro, the 8th largest transit agency in the US.

Proterra released the Catalyst XR, an extended range battery configuration option.

Proterra’s Catalyst model breaks several records at Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center for fuel efficiency, gradeability, weight and acceleration.

Proterra transitioned its headquarters to Burlingame, California.

Proterra surpasses 100 buses sold as the BEB market expands.

Proterra introduces the Catalyst E2, setting a new industry precedent for long-range battery-electric buses.

Former two-term Governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, joins Proterra’s board.

Proterra names JoAnn Covington, Silicon Valley attorney, as chief legal officer and head of government relations.

Emphasizing safe, intelligent transportation, Proterra begins first autonomous bus program in the United States.

Former chief financial officer of AMG, Amy Ard, joins Proterra as CFO.

Global charging standardization organization welcomes Proterra as first North American EV bus manufacturer member.

Proterra closes $55 Million Series 6 with Generation Investment Management LLP And BMW i Ventures.

Proterra opened up its second manufacturing plant in City of Industry, California.

California Governor Brown commemorates new Proterra LA manufacturing facility.

Proterra breaks into the airport market with buses sold to Raleigh Durham International Airport.

San Joaquin Regional Transit District opens first 100 percent electric, zero-emissions bus rapid transit route in the U.S. with Proterra buses.

Proterra Catalyst E2 max sets world record and drives 1,101.2 miles—longest distance traveled by any electric vehicle on a single charge.

Proterra congratulates the winners of FTA Low-No grant funding for battery-electric buses.

Proterra introduces the DuoPower drivetrain, enabling the Catalyst bus to have industry-leading gradeability, nearly twice horsepower and acceleration and 5X the efficiency of a standard diesel bus.

Van Hool selects Proterra for its first all-electric motor coach in the North American market.

Yosemite Becomes First U.S. National Park to Purchase Zero-Emission Buses From Proterra

Proterra expands sales to more than 60 municipal, university, airport, and transit agency customers.

Proterra is named in the Global Cleantech 100 and receives North American Company of the Year award.

Proterra introduces new high power interoperable EV charging technology

Proterra enters Canadian market with electric bus order from Toronto.

Proterra closes $155 million investment from Daimler, Tao Capital Partners, G2VP and others

Technology innovation continues with introduction of Proterra APEX connected vehicle intelligence system

Proterra and Thomas Built Buses unveil the Saf-T-Liner eC2 electric school bus

Proterra customers deploy first electric transit buses in service in Hawaii and North Carolina.

Proterra scales battery leasing program to put Proterra buses at price parity with diesel buses.

Proterra Energy fleet solutions is announced, offering turnkey energy delivery for heavy-duty electric vehicle fleets.

Proterra announced a collaboration with Michelin to develop the MICHELIN® X® InCity Energy Z tire, a new low rolling resistance tire designed and optimized for battery-electric buses in urban environments.

Proterra launched Proterra Powered™, leveraging Proterra’s high-performance batteries and EV expertise to help commercial manufacturers electrify their heavy-duty vehicles.

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) announced its collaboration with Proterra to develop the MT50e, a new all-electric delivery truck chassis.

The Board of Directors appointed Jack Allen, previously the chief operating officer of Navistar International, as Proterra’s chairman and chief executive officer.

Optimal Electric Vehicles, LLC (Optimal-EV) announced plans to leverage Proterra’s best-in-class battery technology and charging systems for the development of the industry’s first all-electric S1LF low-floor cutaway shuttle bus for the North American market.

Bustech, Australia’s award-winning advanced bus manufacturer, announced a new collaboration to manufacture its all-electric ZDi 12.5-meter transit bus utilizing Proterra’s industry-leading battery technology platform.

Proterra unveiled the ZX5, its fifth-generation transit vehicle that touts the longest range of any 40-foot electric bus on the market.

Proterra unveiled its new, high-powered charging solutions, designed in partnership with Power Electronics to enable the electrification of large-scale vehicle fleets.

Proterra announced Gareth Joyce, previously Delta Air Lines’ first chief sustainability officer, as president of its Proterra Powered™ and Energy business units.

With Broward County Transit’s (BCT) agreement to purchase 12 40-foot Proterra® ZX5™ buses, Proterra marked the sale of more than 1,000 battery-electric transit buses in North America.

The opening of a new battery production line co-located in Proterra’s EV bus manufacturing facility in Los Angeles County was expected to create dozens of new jobs.