Gillig to deliver up to 395 electric buses to the greater Seattle area
King County Metro Transit has already placed a firm order for 89 electric low-floor buses from the framework agreement for 395 BEV buses. Within five years, the transport operator can thus take up the option for a further 306 electric buses. The company is active in the greater Seattle area in the US state of Washington. It wants to become “the first large transit agency in North America that is 100% zero-emission,” according to an accompanying press release. The first electric buses built by Gillig for the greater Seattle area will be deployed from a depot in Tukwila.
The buses have a battery capacity of 686 kWh, and Gillig will be using Akasol battery systems from supplier BorgWarner (“AKASystem 9 AKM 150 CYC”), which allow configurations with 490 kWh, 588 kWh or 686 kWh capacity. The manufacturer’s electric bus is based on an existing low-floor platform and is up to 40 feet – the equivalent of 12.2 metres – long. As the platform has been used for years, integration into existing fleets will be seamless, Gillig wrote in an earlier press release. The 40-foot model offers 38 seats and room for 75 passengers. A shorter 35-foot version (10.67 metres) has space for 62 passengers, 31 of whom are seated. Gillig does not provide any information on the range; the electric drives are supplied by Cummins.
Bill Fay, Vice President of Sales at Gillig, comments on the major order from Seatle: “We are proud to support King County Metro in their industry-leading transition to the first fully zero-emissions fleet in America. This order is not just a significant achievement for Gillig.
King County Executive Dow Constantine said the purchase of Gillig’s next-generation battery-electric buses brings his company closer to its goal of being the first major transit agency in North America to be 100% zero-emission. “With these new additions to our fleet, our community members, customers, and operators will benefit from cleaner air as we continue to combat climate change.” King County Executive led the way in introducing hybrid-electric articulated buses in the US in 2004.
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