Electric Buses

FOOTHILL TRANSIT TO LAUNCH WORLD’S FIRST HEAVY DUTY FAST CHARGE ALL ELECTRIC BUS LINE

Foothill Transit Line 291 between Pomona and La Verne now fully zero-emissions. WEST COVINA, CA (September 19, 2014) - Foothill Transit, the primary public transportation provider for the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys in Los Angeles County, is launching the world’s first heavy duty, fast charging, fully electric bus line at the Pomona Transit Center at 9AM on Saturday, September 27, 2014. Almost four years ago to the day, Foothill Transit became the first public transit agency to put fast charge electric buses into service.  The Foothill Transit Ecoliner, manufactured by Proterra LLC in Greenville, SC, is a lightweight, 35-foot transit vehicle with heavy duty responsibilities, driving 30-miles without charging, and able to recharge, hands free and in-route, in 10 minutes.  This Ecoliner was the first of its kind in the nation and now, thanks to the purchase of 12 more buses from Proterra LLC, the agency’s Line 291, which travels between the cities of Pomona and La Verne, will carry passengers exclusively with these vehicles. “The immense challenges we face with the environment demand that we expand our sustainability efforts,” said Doug Tessitor, Chair of Foothill Transit’s Executive Board.  “Rapid advancement in battery and vehicle technology makes zero-emission public transit not only possible but reliable.  This is the time and place for us to show that zero emissions transit is here now.” The project was entirely funded through a Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) II  grant from the Federal Transit Administration.  Foothill Transit’s Line 291 travels 17 miles between La Verne and Pomona and recharges its buses in route at the Pomona Transit Center at a drive-in docking station.  The 10-minute charging time is possible thanks to specially designed lithium titanate batteries. Foothill Transit will be officially launching the all-electric Line 291 at the Pomona Transit Center on Saturday, September 27th at 9AM. In addition to viewing the new fleet of 35-foot Ecoliners, guests at the event will also be able to see Proterra's new 40-foot, V2 electric bus.  Foothill Transit became the first public transit agency in the nation to purchase the new V2.  Delivery is expected in early 2015.  The agency is exploring expansion of electric bus service to neighboring communties. *** Foothill Transit is in its 25th year of serving the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys in Los Angeles County. Its 330-bus fleet covers approximately 327 square miles each year, carrying 14 million passengers with 35 fixed-route bus lines. To receive a complete travel itinerary of starts, stops, and transfers to your destination, call 1-800-RIDE-INFO or visit one of Foothill Transit’s five Transit Stores located in West Covina, Claremont, Pomona, Puente Hills Mall, and El Monte Station. For the latest news, route maps, job openings, and past press releases, visit foothilltransit.org.

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