A leading heavy-duty transportation innovation company has developed an electric bus that can achieve a nominal range of 350 miles on a single charge. The Proterra Catalyst E2 Series electric bus was tested at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds where it achieved the record mileage. The unprecedented mileage range is similar to the daily average logged by traditional mass transit buses.
In effect, during testing the Proterra Catalyst E2 Series electric bus logged more than 600 miles on a single charge under test conditions. The new vehicle joins North America- based Prottera’s Catalyst FC designed for for circulator routes and the XR series vehicle which is for intermediate-mileage routes.
The release of the Catalyst E2 Series raises hopes for viable alternative to fossil-fuel powered mass transit vehicles.
Electric vehicles are at the forefront of environmental and future transportation conversations at the moment. However, the limelight is currently being hogged by smaller consumer cars such as Elon Musk’s Tesla electric vehicles.
Proterra Catalyst E2 Series Electric Bus
The work that Proterra is undertaking is equally important however, if not more. This is because by replacing mass transit vehicles such that rely on diesel fuels, electric buses stand to make a big dent in the problems caused by emissions.
Thousands of cities across the world depend on buses to move people in urban areas which makes them one of the biggest contributors to pollution. As the world becomes more aware and pro-active about the damage caused to the environment through the use of fossil fuels, electric vehicles are inevitably all the rage. And more attention should be paid to electric trucks and buses as they represent a large part of daily traffic and pollution.
Speaking in a press release announcing the new industry precedent nominal range of up to 350 miles, Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra had this to say:
“The question is no longer who will be an early adopter of this technology, but rather who will be the last to commit to a future of clean, efficient, and sustainable mobility. With the Catalyst E2 offering a no-compromise replacement for all fossil fuel buses, battery-electric vehicles have now broken down the final barrier to widespread market adoption.”
To this effect, Proterra is already making inroads into the transportation market with its all-electric heavy duty vehicles. The company’s goal is to develop and bring to market zero emission vehicles that allow bus operators to rely less on fossil fuels. The north American based company has already sold over 300 buses and is looking to double down on production in 2017.
The Future of Mass Transportation
To date Proterra buses have achieved over 2.5 million miles of commercial service all across the United States. That staggering figure has helped to eliminate the need for 540,000 gallons of diesel and the resulting emissions of well over 10 million pounds of carbon.
The company currently offers unmatched energy efficiency through its configurable EV platform, battery and charging options. This makes the bus suitable for typical urban and campus routes because of the electric buses’ range.
As the Proterra Catalyst E2 Series electric bus gets ready to roll off the production line, many commercial, municipal and universities have expressed interest in the innovative buses. And while the asking price for the electric buses is almost twice that of a normal bus at $799,000, the savings in fuel should set off the cost in the long run.
This makes the Proterra Catalyst E2 Series electric bus a wise investment for commercial bus operators and other organisations for their future transportation options. Including companies like Tesla and others, a lot of progress has already been made in the field of electric vehicles. Developments such as the Catalyst E2 Series make good reading for future transportation and our environment.
