Rock Region METRO has unveiled the state of Arkansas’ first five electric mass transit buses.
The 40-foot Proterra ZX5 Max vehicles will enter service in July following additional staff training.
The procurement of these vehicles and the related charging infrastructure was primarily funded by a 4.9 million USD “Shock the Rock” FTA Bus and Bus Facilities competitive grant in 2021.
Justin Avery, Rock Region METRO Chief Executive Officer said:The Rock Region METRO team is proud to contribute to a more sustainable future by operating Arkansas’ first electric mass transit buses. Sharing your ride just got even more sustainable.
To support the operation of these vehicles, METRO has installed three Proterra Charging Systems Industrial Series 180kW charging cabinets. The cabinets each have two 300-amp dispensers to allow all five vehicles to charge simultaneously.
Once fully charged, the battery electric buses have an operating range of 220 to 340 miles.
During the first few months of operation, METRO will complete a charging management evaluation to determine the maximum operational range with varied temperatures, HVAC settings, driver behaviour and terrain.
METRO will rotate the buses on routes 3, 5, 8, 10, 14, 22 and 23, as these are its seven routes that can support 40-foot-long vehicles, rather than 35-foot models with a tighter turning radius.
