Proterra Inc. has added San Joaquin Regional Transit District in Stockton, Calif., to the list of cities currently operating its buses.
On May 20, San Joaquin RTD publicly unveiled its two EcoRide buses, funded through a $2.56 million grant from the California Energy Commission under its successful alternative and renewable fuel and vehicle technology program established under California Assembly Bill 118.
This latest deployment, the first in northern California, continues Proterra’s expansion in public transit. Proterra has more than tripled transit agency orders under contract for the company’s flagship EcoRide in the past 12 months alone and is planning for its current growth path to continue.
The two composite body buses will operate on RTD’s Route 51, which will enable the buses to recharge at RTD’s Downtown Transit Center.
“We’re excited to be a part of an historic new era of zero-emission public transportation, and we are proud of what we can now offer to those who live and work in our region,” said RTD General Manager/CEO Donna DeMartino. “RTD is a local leader in the adoption of technologies that improve the environment and provide better services for our customers and our community.”
Proterra executives have worked closely with San Joaquin RTD, the California Energy Commission and CALSTART on this new electric bus project. Proterra’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ian Shackleton and Chief Business Development Officer and General Counsel Marc Gottschalk and Board Member Michael Linse from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers attended the official launch ceremony on May 20.
“As the cleanest, most fuel efficient and lowest total cost of ownership option in the transit market, Proterra’s all-electric buses are the natural choice for transit agencies struggling to balance budget constraints, ever-increasing fuel costs and mounting sustainability pressures,” Shackleton said. “We are thrilled to see our buses go into service in another forward-looking community and proud to have worked closely with San Joaquin RTD and the California Energy Commission to make this project a success. We look forward to having our buses in service there for many years to come and to pointing to RTD’s success to lead other agencies to take similar steps toward the future of transit.”
