NEWS

Asheville previews new electric buses

Special to Black Mountain News

The City of Asheville, on Feb. 15, unveiled electric buses, which will go into service later this year. 

The zero-emission buses were introduced by the Asheville Redefines Transit (ART) system at its station on Coxe Avenue. 

"By committing to transit vehicles that are powered by electricity, the city will reduce fuels costs and dependence on imported energy resources," the organization said in a release before the event. "It will also align with the city’s carbon-reduction goals."

Three of the buses, which were purchased from Greenville, South Carolina-based Proterra, were delivered to the City of Asheville in December. 

"The estimated impact is an approximate reduction of 54 tons of emission per year per bus, which adds up to a total of 270 tons of emissions per year once all five ART buses are deployed," the City of Asheville said on its website. 

The city intends to convert its entire fleet to electric vehicles in the future. As drivers train to operate the buses, they will run the routes behind existing ART buses. 

The electric buses will go into service after training and testing is completed.