GILLIG has announced the delivery of 12 battery electric buses for the Counties of Kaua‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island.
The new buses, which will replace the existing fleet of diesel buses across the islands, were celebrated at the Driving Hawai‘i Forward event held at Honolulu Harbor’s Pier 29.
The event, which was hosted in partnership with the City & County of Honolulu, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT), and Honolulu Harbor, saw four 35′ GILLIG Battery Electric Buses from each of Hawai‘i’s four counties showcased side by side.
Deputy Director of Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu, John Nouchi, said:The State Department of Transportation, City and County of Honolulu, and Kaua‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i counties have collaborated to bring you a reveal of the future of our state transportation networks. Together, they signify a quantum leap forward in our state’s commitment to green and sustainable transportation.
Purchase of the buses was made possible thanks to a funding grant of 11.2 million USD from the Federal Transit Administration via its ‘Low or No Emission’ grant, with the ‘Buses and Bus Facilities’ formula program also covering part of the project’s total 16.6 million USD cost.
The new buses will join the 17 zero-emission buses currently in operation across Honolulu, with the city already having secured funds to purchase up to 78 additional buses over the next three years.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, said:These battery-electric buses have been a game changer for Honolulu.
They are quiet and efficient, with top-notch performance ensuring our riders a safe, comfortable and high-quality ride. Our riders love them. Our bus drivers love driving them. I’m proud that our city and the state, are taking steps together toward a cleaner transportation future.
Each new GILLIG bus has been equipped with 686kWh of onboard energy storage, 35% more than the current vehicles in use.
