This spring, we welcomed the arrival of Metro’s new 60-foot battery electric coach.
As “Big Brother” goes through its final testing and prepares to go into service this fall, “Little Brother” has rolled onto the scene!
These 40-foot New Flyer coaches can seat up to 36 people, including the driver, and boasts a range of approximately 220 miles on a single charge.
After testing, this new coach will become part of a Metro fleet making the transition to zero-emission vehicles powered by renewable energy. Starting this fall through early 2022, 40 battery electric coaches will go into service.
Last fall, Metro retired its last diesel-only coaches, joining only a handful of large transit agencies in the U.S. that have a fleet that does not include fully-diesel coaches. Metro has committed to purchasing only zero-emission buses beyond 2023 and building the charging infrastructure to support them. These steps will help us meet our zero-emission goal by 2035.
“Little Brother” is expected to join “Big Brother” in driving into a greener future this winter.
Is there a plan for which routes these will be placed on?
Guided by our Mobility Framework—Metro’s blueprint for centering equity and sustainability in the services we provide, we are prioritizing communities that have disproportionately borne the brunt of health impacts from air pollution and are on the frontlines of climate change in our battery-electric bus implementation.
How are they going to be recharged in Tukwila Annex when it’s just an asphalt parking lot with no charging infrastructure to speak of?
I only know of the non-proprietary pantograph design being used to quick charge (same as Proterra’s patent shoes).
So how many kohlers are going to be running all night long to charge the fleet up for 4am pull?
And I get the sinking feeling that the 4700’s are being built with non-union workers in Alabama instead of unions in MN, NY, and Cali…
Brian,
Thank you for your interest in the steps Metro is taking in our transition to a zero-emission fleet.
We are completing construction of a transit charging facility at our South Base in Tukwila. That facility, which will have pantographs and plug-in stations, is expected to go online later this fall.
The charging equipment at the base will be using Siemens and Shunk designs selected by Metro. No generators will be utilized in the recharging process, all electrification efforts at the South Base complex are supported by Seattle City Light.
The construction of our coaches is taking place at New Flyer’s St Cloud Minnesota plant.