Proterra secures order for 73 electric composite-bodied buses

Proterra (Greenville, SC,) announced an additional order from King County Metro in Seattle that will include up to 73 of its battery-electric composite-bodied buses for metro Seattle and adjoining communities. 

With transportation representing nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions in the King County region, Metro aims to influence the development and expansion of all-electric buses, by committing to replace its current fleet with zero-emission vehicles. The County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan calls for both increased transit service and a cleaner fleet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Proterra’s new Catalyst technology will help Metro achieve these goals.

“To better serve our customers, we want battery buses that travel longer distances and can carry more people,” says King County Metro Transit General Manager Rob Gannon. “We’re committed to expanding our battery-electric bus fleet with standardized battery bus charging systems and high-performing vehicles.”

King County Metro will purchase up to 73 battery-electric buses from Proterra at a cost of up to $55 million, starting with 20 buses totaling $15.1 million. Charging stations to support the initial orders of those buses will range from $5.5 million to $6.6 million.

“King County Metro’s decision to purchase up to 73 Proterra battery-electric buses not only represents a significant milestone for mass transit in the U.S., but also a resounding victory for the clean transportation industry as a whole. Already a model for the new generation of sustainability-minded transit agencies, King County Metro continues to demonstrate its commitment to exceptional service, environmental action, and technological innovation,” says Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “We look forward to supporting them as they deploy our industry-leading Catalyst buses says their expanding ridership base.”