Three-Month Demonstration Set to Begin
 METRO CEO, Board Chair, Board Members, APTA Chair and Proterra Executive gather for demo launch event.
For the first time, METRO patrons will soon have the chance to ride a battery-electric bus. Today, the Authority unveiled the 40-foot, zero-emissions demonstration bus. It will be used for a 90-day pilot program beginning on Dec. 4th along the 63 Fondren route.
"At METRO, we do our part to reduce emissions in our community by easing congestion and taking single-occupant vehicles off of the road," said METRO Chair Carrin Patman. "Today, we celebrate the evolution of transit bus technology and emissions reduction by unveiling this bus that is powered by innovation,"
 Manufactured by California-based Proterra, the bus operates up to 30 miles per charge. Which makes the 63 route ideal, as it covers about 20 miles per round-trip. METRO hopes the program will provide information about the technology and its performance under real-life scenarios. For example, the bus' air conditioning system will be tested to simulate summertime conditions in Houston.
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"This is a true test of Houston! We will be asking for feedback from METRO operators, mechanics, and our customers to learn how this bus compares to a conventionally powered vehicle," said METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert. |
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METRO's commitment to cleaner burning transit technologies is long standing. Currently, the fleet includes over 700 clean diesel, over 400 hybrid and nearly 60 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. This year METRO also created a new department focused on innovation.
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