The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) has added four battery-electric buses (BEB) to its fleet. The new vehicles are funded by 5307 Formula Fund and NV Energy’s Economic Recovery Transportation Electrification Plan grants and further the RTC’s sustainability goals and provide air quality benefits for the residents and visitors of southern Nevada.
“The RTC is committed to furthering its goal of converting to a zero-emission fleet,” said Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones. “Thanks to very generous funding through Rep. [Dina]Titus (D-NV), our federal delegation and NV Energy, we are able to add new technology that benefits our transit customers, residents and visitors while reducing our carbon footprint.”
“The evolution of NV Energy’s electric vehicle programs - including the creation of the Transit Electrification Grant - that supported RTC of Southern Nevada’s introduction of electric buses into their fleet would not be possible without the partnership and commitment from the Nevada Legislature, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission and so many others,” said Marie Steele, NV Energy vice president of integrated energy services. "At NV Energy, we are proud to continue to support our community’s decarbonization efforts and bring more federal funding back to Nevada, with a commitment to providing for historically underserved communities, which is exactly where these buses will travel.”
The four 40-foot BEBs are more efficient and less expensive to operate than traditional diesel buses and can store approximately 525kWh on board. The addition of BEBs comes on the heels of the RTC’s August 2023 launch of two hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, which are also environmentally friendly and do not produce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Today's announcement is more than just the unveiling of electric buses; it's a testament to our collective commitment to a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable southern Nevada,” said Nevada Conservation League Executive Director Kristee Watson. “Nevada is taking steps to reduce air pollution, improve public health, boost our economy and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and it’s all thanks to federal and state investments like our nation’s Clean Energy Plan and the passage of the Nevada Clean Trucks and Buses Incentive Program. Together, we’re building a cleaner, more prosperous and safer future for our region and our planet.”
