14 electric buses have recently hit the streets of Washington, D.C., in an effort to make the city more eco-friendly.
Taking the bus already helps to decrease your ecological footprint, but now your daily commute may be even more eco-friendly! Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser recently announced that 14 electric buses would be hitting the streets starting on May 1. The buses are now in circulation, and you can catch a ride on one of them for only a dollar. Mayor Bowser said in a statement, “A growing city needs growing transportation options. These new electric buses will provide residents and visitors with one more sustainable, reliable, and affordable way to get around the District. With this greener, more modern fleet of buses on the road, we are building a safer, stronger, and more sustainable D.C.” [caption id="attachment_9393" align="aligncenter" width="701"]
Courtesy of Electrek[/caption]
These buses will be one of the largest fleets of electric buses in the nation. The buses will run on all six of the Circulator routes. Right now the 14 buses only make up 18 percent of the total Circulator buses, but hopefully their success will lead towards more eco-friendly transportation. The buses are 100 percent battery-powered and emit no greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, or black carbon. Replacing traditional buses with the 14 buses will save almost 3.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide and 4.2 million pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere each year.
In addition to these perks, Proterra, who manufactures the buses, estimates that each bus saves $237,000 in a lifetime on maintenance costs. The buses will also be equipped with free WiFi, USB ports, air conditioning, and digital display screens featuring the latest commuter info which is sure to make any commute more relaxing.
Proterra’s chief executive Ryan Popple said, “As one of the most vibrant and visited cities in the nation, Washington, D.C., is the perfect place to introduce technology that not only dramatically reduces emissions, but also fundamentally improves the rider experience.”
What do you think? Have you ridden one of the electric buses yet? Let us know in the comments below!
