The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) unveiled four new electric buses, making almost half of the agency’s fleet electric or hybrid.
“Our electric buses now will be running in all parts of Pinellas County,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller. “We are committed to sustainable choices that are environmentally responsible and financially stable. Our electric bus program will contribute to improved air quality for Pinellas County residents, and it will reduce the costs of operating our fleet.”
With the new buses, PSTA now has a total of six electric buses that are battery powered and produce no emissions. The agency also has 88 hybrid buses. That means about half of its buses are now diesel powered.
PSTA says electric buses cost less to run than diesel, are easier to maintain and each one saves 135 tons of carbon emissions per year that the diesel bus it replaces produced. PSTA hopes to eliminate all diesel buses from its fleet within the next decade.
“Pinellas County leads the state with the largest fleet of hybrid buses and it’s this type of attention to sustainability and innovation that is literally driving PSTA and our great county forward,” added PSTA Board Chair and Pinellas County Commission Chair Pat Gerard.
Each electric bus is powered by a rechargeable, environmentally friendly battery and averages 180 miles or about 14 hours of operating time on a single charge. PSTA will save about $20,000 a year on diesel fuel costs with each electric bus, or $240,000 over 12 years.
