The Atomic City Transit has announced an agreement with Proterra to purchase two Proterra Catalyst® 35-foot E2 buses and two Proterra® 125 kW plug-in charging systems.
Atomic City Transit is Proterra’s first customer in New Mexico, increasing Proterra’s reach into 43 U.S. states and Canadian provinces with more than 100 customers.
Atomic City Transit offers transit service in both Los Alamos and White Rock and provides an average of over 545,000 annual passenger trips. Los Alamos received $1.485 million through the Low or No Emission Grant Program to purchase new zero-emission battery-electric buses and chargers to replace the city’s existing diesel fleet. The Proterra electric buses will be used on the downtown route.
“Atomic City Transit has been a leader in New Mexico in identifying and implementing innovative solutions that deliver economic and environmental benefits to the public,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “Proterra’s purpose-built electric buses will help Atomic City Transit meet its sustainability goals while continuing to deliver great service to its community with clean, quiet transportation.”
Proterra® electric buses have zero tailpipe emissions or pollutants, eliminating about 230,000 pounds of CO2 emissions annually for every diesel vehicle replaced, according to the company, saying a switch to zero-emission buses presents an opportunity to cut pollution, improve local air quality and reduce oil dependence. It also provides a clean, quiet ride for the public while improving the air quality and contributing to a healthier community.
To help customers like Atomic City Transit meet tough routes and conditions, Proterra offers a high performance DuoPower drivetrain, which delivers nearly twice the horsepower and five times better fuel efficiency than a standard diesel engine. The DuoPower drivetrain features two electric motors that deliver a 510 horsepower, accelerating a Catalyst bus from 0 to 20 miles per hour in about five seconds. In addition, the DuoPower drivetrain can propel a bus up a 27 percent grade, making it an ideal option for routes with steep hills. The Catalyst vehicle combines this drivetrain with Proterra’s battery technology and lightweight composite bus body.
“Proterra electric buses are a great solution for transit agencies in the Southwest. With more than 10 million miles of proven performance on the road, our vehicles have tackled some of the toughest routes in all climates,” said Lauren Cochran, director of southwest sales, Proterra. “With more than a decade of experience implementing heavy-duty fleets and infrastructure in North America, our team of experts is ready to help transit agencies seamlessly transition to clean, quiet, battery-electric fleets.”
