Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) has unveiled first 21 Proterra electric buses, the first installment of 40 that it plans to deploy this year, as well as a new, purpose-built electric bus garage. ETS, which serves the capital of Alberta, Canada, with a fleet of over 900 buses, will begin putting its new electric buses into service in early August. 

Proterra’s 40-foot Catalyst E2 bus has six Proterra battery packs, with a total capacity of 660 kWh, enabling approximately 350 km of range. In 2017, this bus model set a new world record for the longest distance traveled by an EV on a single charge—1,101 miles. ETS will be the first customer in North America to put it into service.

Proterra says its DuoPower drivetrain delivers nearly twice the horsepower and five times better fuel efficiency than a standard diesel engine. The DuoPower’s two electric motors deliver a total of 510 hp, accelerating a Catalyst bus from 0-20 mph in under six seconds and propelling it up grades of as much as 25 percent.

To charge its new buses, Edmonton has also unveiled the new Kathleen Andrews Garage, named after the city’s first female transit operator. ETS collaborated with the Proterra Energy team to install 26 ABB 150 kW depot chargers connected to inverted pantographs, and seven 60 kW Proterra plug-in chargers in the maintenance area, all of which are interoperable and standardized. ETS bus operators can drive the buses into parking spots and connect to the overhead chargers with the flip of a switch. A fleet management software system initiates charging at designated times to optimize energy usage.

Proterra’s APEX Connected Vehicle Intelligence System will allow ETS to monitor the status of its vehicles and gather information such as state of charge, charger status, bus efficiency, distance traveled, and more. Charging management features keep energy consumption from the chargers below set limits, avoiding demand charges and ensuring the power draw stays within facility limits.

“This is one of the most impressive end-to-end deployments of battery-electric transit buses we’ve seen in North America,” said Jack Allen, CEO of Proterra. “The ETS deployment showcases how to successfully implement an electric bus fleet and charging infrastructure for current fleet needs, as well as plan for expansion in the near future.”

“Our purchase represents the largest purchase of electric buses in Canadian history,” says Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson. “Electric buses benefit not only transit users who will get to experience the perks of a quieter commute with decreased emissions, but also Edmontonians who aren’t regular commuters on our transit system, as they’ll also benefit from the city meeting its energy and climate goals.”   

Source: Proterra