Electric bus to get trial run
START Bus will demonstrate new electric bus technology during a trial run in Jackson next week.
U.S. based Proterra will put an electric bus into service for public use on various routes February 18 through February 23. The buses are similar to those currently being manufactured for START. The demonstration will offer a first-hand experience as to how well the bus performs in Jackson weather. It will also give Town fleet maintenance staff a chance to learn how to service the buses and drivers a chance to learn how to operate them.
“The START Bus board is committed to reducing emissions from the transportation sector and improving air quality in Teton County,” said Darren Brugmann, START Bus Director. “A goal has been established to transition the START fleet to 40% electric by 2022.”
START won a $2,290,000 federal grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Low-or-No Emissions grant program to purchase up to eight electric buses to replace the bio-diesel buses currently in the transit fleet.
“The components of the electric bus that will be visiting us next week are very similar to the buses which we currently have on order with Proterra,” said Brugmann. “However, this is a demonstration bus as the buses for START are currently being manufactured. We anticipate that our buses will be delivered to Jackson in the first quarter of 2020 – which would essentially be this time next year.”
The bus program support’s the Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan addressing Common Value Ecosystem Stewardship.
Proterra is based in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Greenville, South Carolina. It supplies electric buses to a number of communities across the country including Park City, Shreveport, Missoula, Chicago, Nashville, Worchester and Seattle.
