The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) in Florida has introduced its first six GILLIG battery-electric buses.
This is part of a 5-year contract for 62 GILLIG electric buses, which PSTA ordered in late 2022 to help modernise and decarbonise its public transport services.
Brad Miller, CEO of PSTA said:For over three decades, our collaboration with GILLIG has been instrumental in offering safe, reliable, and now zero-emissions sustainable transit options to our community. With the launch of GILLIG's Battery Electric buses, we're taking a major step in our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. These buses represent a key move towards an even more sustainable and equitable future for PSTA, and we are excited to start the new year with these new zero-emission buses!
PSTA’s new electric buses will replace older diesel-fueled models that are ageing out of the fleet. It is estimated that the electric models will save approximately 11 million gallons of diesel fuel over their lifetime, thus reducing emissions and improving air quality throughout Pinellas County.
The new 40-foot vehicles are solely powered by ultra-high-capacity batteries with 686 kWh of onboard energy storage.
These vehicles will join 88 GILLIG hybrid buses already in service for PSTA, forming Florida’s largest fleet of hybrid buses.
In addition, PSTA’s has invested in 15 ChargePoint chargers through GILLIG’s Charging Solutions team.
