Proterra Accepts National White House Champions of Change Award

Aug. 3, 2012
Award honors organizations providing exemplary leadership in growth of transportation industry.

Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, accepted a White House Champions of Change Award for Transportation Innovation on Tuesday, July 31. The event included a tour of the East Wing of the White House and a discussion with other winners and key leaders from Department of Transportation, including Secretary of Transportation Ray La Hood, who presented the award, as well as Federal Transit Authority (FTA) executives and White House staff members. 

The White House Champions of Change program highlights the stories and examples of citizens and companies across the country who are "Building an America to Last" with projects and initiatives that move their communities and industries forward. Specifically, Proterra will be honored for leading viable transportation initiatives that promote and facilitate economic growth and job creation, implementing environmentally friendly and sustainable transportation systems and services, and developing state-of-the-art technologies that are critical to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of transportation systems.

Chief executive officer David Bennett; chief business development officer and general counsel, Marc Gottschalk; founder, Dale Hill; and vice president of sales and marketing, Ian Shackleton, were on hand to accept the award on behalf of Proterra. Proterra customers Donna De Martino, manager and chief executive officer of California's San Joaquin Regional Transit District; Greg Dietterick, city administrator for the City of Seneca, S.C.; and Doran Barnes, executive director of Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif. attended the ceremony as guests of the company.

Proterra is the only U.S.-based manufacturer of clean technology, 100 percent battery-electric transit buses. The company's EcoRide BE35 battery-electric buses recharge in less than 10 minutes, ready to serve the community with clean electric powered bus service. The 35-foot long buses are made of lightweight composite materials and are powered with state of the art battery technology. 

As a result, the buses have zero emissions, run virtually silent and are 600 percent more fuel efficient than diesel buses.

"Proterra is proud to be an American company leading the global charge in providing clean, affordable and viable mass transit technology," said Proterra chief executive officer David Bennett. "This award validates the efforts of Proterra, our forward-thinking transit agency customers, and our governmental partners, especially the South Carolina Congressional delegation, in working diligently to advance this important cause. We are thrilled to accept such an honor."

With reduced fuel and maintenance costs, Proterra's buses are an attractive option for areas looking to reduce their total cost of ownership and operating expenses.The company's buses have been or soon will be in operation in the following cities: Austin, Texas; Burbank, Calif.; Columbia, S.C.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Pomona, Calif.; San Antonio, Texas; Tallahassee, Fla.; Seneca, S.C.; Stockton, Calif. and Reno, Nev.

"Today's Champions are leaders in developing and implementing innovative transportation initiatives," said Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood."They are making a difference every day in their local communities and across the country by improving America's transportation infrastructure and helping their friends and neighbors get where they need to go."