Proterra Inc., the provider of zero-emission battery electric transit solutions, has completed the largest-ever U.S. sale of Altoona-tested heavy-duty electric buses to Foothill Transit, a joint powers authority of 22 member cities in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys in Southern California. In 2011, Foothill Transit became the first transit agency in the United States to use on-route charge electric buses by purchasing and operating Proterra buses. Based on strong performance and return on investment of those vehicles, the agency has decided to purchase an additional 12 buses from Proterra to completely electrify its 291 route, which travels between LaVerne and Pomona.
Although popular throughout the United States for reduced cost of ownership and sustainability, zero-emission electric buses are of particular interest in California, where there are many environmental non-attainment zones and California Air Resource Board (CARB) regulations in play.
The Foothill Transit sale is the latest in a wave of new orders for Proterra, with the company’s last three sales to transit systems coming from repeat customers. Recently, StarMetro of Tallahassee purchased an additional three EV buses from Proterra, increasing their EV fleet size to five, and the Worcester Regional Transit Authority in Massachusetts doubled its initial three bus order to six.
To keep pace with this growing demand, Proterra has doubled its production workforce, installed a second production line, added a second shift and grown its sales staff significantly.