UGA to get electric buses

The University of Georgia says it has a contract to purchase 20 electric buses. UGA says they'll bought with money from a $10 million grant from a program administered by the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority. 

From the University of Georgia…

The University of Georgia has established a contract to purchase up to 20 Proterra Catalyst E2 buses. The move is a tremendous step forward in reducing carbon emissions and increasing alternative transportation for the UGA Campus Transit system, one of the largest of its kind in the country.

Before arriving, the buses will undergo construction to meet specifications laid out by the university that are designed to meet needs specific to campus. The addition of the buses will make the electric bus fleet at UGA one of the largest in the Southeast and offer riders a quiet and smooth riding transportation option with zero emissions.

After receiving a $10 million grant from the GO! Transit Capital Program administered by Georgia’s State Road and Tollway Authority, the university evaluated and tested electric bus technology to ensure students, faculty, staff and visitors received the best electric bus possible. Tests evaluated several features including bus capacity, handling, turning, hill climbing, battery range, rider and driver experience, acceleration/braking, maintainability and durability.

The state of Georgia underwent a similar testing and review process and selected Proterra as a statewide vendor for electric buses. This allowed the university to procure the buses under a statewide contract.

Adding electric buses to its fleet will dramatically reduce maintenance and operating costs, which in turn help keep student fees low. Energy costs for operating the electric buses amount to less than $10 per day per bus compared to energy costs for a diesel bus that total $90 per day per bus. The buses also have twice the acceleration and horsepower as a diesel bus.

Built nearby in South Carolina, the Proterra Catalyst bus holds records for acceleration and torque as well as distance traveled by an electric vehicle on a single charge at 1,101.2 miles. The positive benefits of electric bus technology go beyond maintenance cost and operations.

The buses will advance research and fieldwork opportunities for students and faculty in the College of Engineering by providing access to live field data for researchers. In an emergency, the batteries have the potential to supply power to buildings that have been appropriately modified.