Communities across the United States are pushed each day to do more with less. Government and transit agency leaders alike struggle to control ever-increasing costs while providing affordable and much-needed transportation options for all citizens. Rising transit expenses are taking a toll on operating budgets, leaving local leaders with no choice but to figure out which part of the budget they will have to raid to find the extra money, year after year.
The city of Seneca, S.C., Clemson Area Transit and Proterra Inc. worked together to address these challenges head-on and change the transit paradigm.
The city of Seneca, South Carolina, is committed to preserving the environment while delivering convenient, efficient and fare-free CATbus transportation options to its citizens and those in neighboring areas, including Clemson University.
In cooperation with Clemson Area Transit (CATbus), the city began CATbus service nine years ago. However, due to the city’s proximity to the Atlanta metro area, the city faced some potential air quality issues.
“When we started bus service, we were told we were approaching non-compliance through no fault of our own, but that meant we needed to find a way to add buses without expanding our carbon footprint,” said city of Seneca Planning and Development Director Ed Halbig. “We were also committed to adopting the bus service free of charge to our residents as a community benefit, so any solution would also have to be very cost-effective, as well.”
The challenge was to find a way to continue bus service while preserving air quality and keeping costs in check to maintain CATbus’s fare-free policy.
The city worked with the Center for Transportation and the Environment to secure federal grant funds through the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program to accomplish this.
After weighing all of the options available on the market, including diesel, CNG, hybrid and fuel cell buses, the city of Seneca and CATbus decided to switch their entire diesel bus fleet to EV buses. Contrary to popular belief, only fuel cell and EV buses truly offer zero-tailpipe emissions. Of these two best environmental options, Seneca felt that EV was the more viable long-term option.
The city of Seneca, CATbus and CTE submitted a proposal to create the first all-electric bus service in the country. The city committed $1 million in local matching funds to pay for the city’s initial order of four buses and explored some innovative funding approaches, including electrical infrastructure improvement grants, that would allow them to finance the entire project without any substantial impact to taxpayers.
The decision was also made based on an earnest desire to help support U.S. energy independence. Switching to EV would allow them to become their own gas station. “We wanted to cut our own deal and put control in our hands,” noted City Manager Greg Dietterick.
Seneca and CATbus chose Proterra to supply its zero-emission 100 percent battery-electric buses.
CATbus was instrumental in promoting the opportunity EV presented to save money on diesel fuel and maintenance costs while providing improved community service and an enhanced rider experience.
“Proterra was able to effectively demonstrate and quantify our potential costs savings through a detailed analytical and metric-driven process, so we expected big savings,” said CATbus Executive Director Al Babinicz. “However, we also expected the buses to be completely reliable and to perform as well as, if not better, than standard diesel buses. CATbus’s bar was set high for Proterra, and Proterra delivered.”
Before the buses could go into service, CATbus and Proterra put them through field-testing process to verify range, levels of service, use in geography and topography, ergonomics and comfort, among other factors.
After passing these tests, the CATbuses went into full-time revenue service in September 2014. The Seneca community, city of Clemson and Clemson University, where the EV buses operate on campus 60 times per week, have embraced the buses.
“In the time since the buses have gone into service, we have not purchased a single gallon of diesel fuel, and electric CATbuses are getting the diesel equivalent of roughly 18-19 miles per gallon, four times that of a standard bus,” added Babinicz. “Because the EV buses have no exhaust system, no engine, no need for oil changes and associated routine maintenance, we are seeing significant savings on maintenance as well, and Proterra provides excellent support for its products. They are always there to address any potential concerns and offer advice on optimizing the performance of the buses. We couldn’t be happier with our choice.”
After seeing the success of the first buses, the city has purchased two additional buses. Most importantly, the City of Seneca has chosen to convert its entire fleet to EV, making Seneca the first city in the United States with an all-electric bus system.
“Seneca is all-in on EV transit, and we are not looking back,” said Halbig. “While we are proud to be the first city to switch its entire system to EV buses, based on performance and value, we think others will follow suit quickly.”
In addition to the commitment of his team and Proterra, Babinicz attributes the success of the switch to EV buses to informed local leadership. “Our elected officials in Seneca have led with courage and vision to put the city in the spotlight. CATbus is just one part of this innovation.”
As an operator, Babinicz also adds that it’s important to note that Proterra’s EV bus solutions are completely scalable. “We drive 15,000 miles per month and have saved roughly 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel each month the buses have been in operation. Those facts speak for themselves. However, what works for five buses in a smaller city like Seneca will also work for 500 buses in a city like Chicago or New York. Electric buses truly have the potential to be a game changer for the transit industry.”
When asked what advice he would offer to other local government and civic leaders considering new transit options, Ed Halbig offers the following advice: “No one gets fired for sticking with the status quo, but no one ever gets recognized for it either. Business as usual does not progress, and there are many programs out there designed to help communities take bold steps toward making their transportation system better, cheaper and cleaner. Seneca is proof that EV works and is living up to what it promises to deliver each day. We want to help spread the word on the benefits and effectiveness of EV, and we invite the world to come to Seneca to see for themselves.”
When asked about Proterra, Halbig adds, “Proterra has led the way for other bus companies to follow and set a high standard for EV transit.”
