USA: Battery-electric bus manufacturer Proterra Inc has sold seven buses and an electric charging station to Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (Nashville MTA). The buses are due to be built at Proterra’s factory in Greenville, S.C. and delivered to Nashville this year.
Funds for the electric buses and the electric charging station are the result of Nashville MTA’s successful application for a federal Clean Fuels grant and local matching funds from the city. The Proterra buses will serve the free downtown Music City Circuit, which is designed to help residents and visitors reach sports and entertainment venues, downtown hotels, residences and offices more quickly and easily.
“We are committed to investing in transit improvements that better our community by reducing harmful emissions and improving fuel economy,” said Paul J. Ballard, CEO of Nashville MTA and the Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA).
“By incorporating the Proterra buses into our fleet, we are moving in the right direction to ensure Nashville MTA’s transit services benefit the environment for years to come.”
Proterra was selected through a competitive procurement process, which included bids from Wave, New Flyer, EV America and BYD.
The Nashville MTA operates bus and van services in Metro Nashville/Davidson County. With 46 bus routes and its AccessRide vans, the transit system is connected to all major corridors, many businesses, and tourist attractions.
Last fiscal year, for the second year in a row, the Nashville MTA and RTA recorded more than 10 million passenger trips in the Middle Tennessee area. Nashville MTA’s management team also manages the regional transit services for the RTA.
