February 9, 2008
Clean Cities Coalition Hosts Electric Bus Demo
On Friday, February 6, the Silicon Valley Clean Cities Coalition, in conjunction with the City of San Jose Redevelopment Agency, arranged a public demonstration of a new zero emission, fast-charge battery-electric transit bus. The lunch-time event, held at San Jose’s City Hall Rotunda, offered elected officials, transit district representatives and alternative fuel advocates the opportunity to view and ride in the 60 passenger vehicle designed by Proterra. Regional Department of Energy Director Mike Bednarz was among those in attendance.
A group of 19 kindergartners from Trace Elementary School in San Jose were among the first to climb aboard the bus. According to Proterra founder and chief technology officer Dale Hill, the state-of-the-art bus incorporates some of the latest green technology created in the Silicon Valley. He went on to say that California school districts and transit authorities need products like this.
"The fact is, emissions free transit is not a 'nice to have,' it is a must have for clean, healthy communities across California and the U.S.,” said Hill. "That is why we're thrilled to bring our clean transit solutions to California - where transit agencies need an economical solution available today to make progress toward recent emissions standards passed by the California Air Resources Board."
Proterra is considering locating a manufacturing facility in the Silicon Valley. Learn more about Proettra's new generation of electric buses.