TriMet in Portland, Oregon, hopes to add electric buses to its local routes, eliminating loud motors and exhaust smells. The mass transit agency is currently looking at vehicles from two different manufacturers.
An electric bus from BYD, a Chinese manufacturer, operated alongside other buses earlier this year with no real issues. One charging problem was quickly resolved.
A bus from Proterra, a Greenville, N.C., manufacturer, recently rolled into town for drivers and mechanics to take a look at it.
Although the acquisition cost is much higher, TriMet has submitted a $5,630,800 grant request to the Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment program and would save money by eliminating fuel costs.
Some other cities such as San Antonio, Texas, and Stanford, California, have already started using electric buses.
