Electric buses increased Santa Barbara bus ridership by 1,000%

Bussing our way to a breathable tomorrow

When Santa Barbara, Calif., introduced battery-powered electric buses back in 1991, it became one of the first U.S. cities to use zero-emission, high-performance transit vehicles.  Local transit riders quickly showed a strong preference for the quiet, exhaust-free electric buses over the traditional diesel models.  The Stingray, a 30-foot, low-floor electric transit bus, can drive 130 miles on a two-hour battery charge.  A comparable diesel bus, consuming 2.75 miles per gallon, cannot travel 100 miles without refilling its approximately 270-gallon fuel tank.

Electric transit vehicles not only travel further for less cost, they do so without polluting.  Battery-powered electric buses produce zero noise, zero odor, and zero emissions.  Imagine standing next to a bus without fear of coughing.  Traditional diesel buses produce large quantities of nitrogen oxide pollutants which, when mixed with sunlight, create the type of smog that has plagued Los Angeles for decades.  If Chicagoans want to continue to see the spokes of the Willis Tower clearly, steps to lower emissions need to be taken. 

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation (USDOT) recognizes the importance of lowering both fuel dependence and carbon emissions.  USDOT recently awarded the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) $2.2 million to purchase two all-electric propulsion system buses through its Transportation Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction and Clean Fuels (TIGER II) grant program.  The new full-size, 40-foot buses will be part of a pilot program to test how well battery-powered electric buses compare during regular service, given the need to recharge these larger buses at least every 100 miles.  From this pilot program, transportation experts hope to learn how to make zero-emission transit vehicles more efficient and attainable.  In the short term, these new buses will make Chicago’s air more breathable!

Photo courtesy of Mattew E. Cohen

For Additional Information:

• U.S. Dept. of Transportation
• Chicago Transit Authority
• Santa Barbara Electric Transportation Institute

 

NEWS

Local News

Growing deficit looms as Joliet mulls transportation center cost – The Herald-News  “The city is embarking on a $42 million public project at the same time its latest budget proposal shows the bank account running dry by 2012.” 

Metra riders subjected to high amounts of diesel soot – Chicago Tribune  “Tribune testing found the air trapped inside the stainless-steel cars contains levels of diesel soot up to 72 times higher than on the streets outside.” 

CTA looking at Red Line extension to Far South Side – The Chicago Defender  “Chicago Transit Authority officials, local politicians and community organizations all agree that the proposed Red Line extension project is not only long overdue but a win-win situation for the Far South Side.” 

Real-time bus schedule data aids commuters – Chicago Sun-Times  “The latest update, which started in September, lists an identification code for each bus stop. When a commuter sends the ID code in a text message, he or she receives a text message back telling him how long he will have to wait before the bus comes.” 

Kane getting $2.6 million for new bike paths – Chicago Sun-Times  “Kane County has been awarded more than $2.6 million in federal grant money to build three new bike and pedestrian paths.” 

Which comes first? The charge or the electric car? – Chicago Tribune  “When Ford Motor Co. brought its fleet of plug-ins to Chicago on Friday, it was more than just a preview of the automaker's soon-to-be-released vehicles. The event also was an effort to push the city to support more charging stations.” 

CTA to test all-electric buses – Chicago Tribune  “The Chicago Transit Authority received a $2.2 million federal grant Thursday to buy two all-electric buses.” 

World News

Aviation Bill to Be a Priority for House Republican – The Wall Street Journal  “The Florida Republican in line to take over the House Transportation Committee said his first priority next year will be to pass a long-delayed bill to finance an overhaul of the nation's aging air-traffic navigation system.” 

A High-Speed Derailment – The New York Times  “Representative John Mica of Florida, the senior Republican in line to take the reins of the House Transportation Committee in January, is unhappy with the way the Obama administration awarded $10 billion in federal stimulus funds for high-speed rail projects.” 

Britain Cuts Spending While Investing in Infrastructure – The Infrastructurist  “Late last month British Prime Minister David Cameron announced plans to severely slash government spending—only to follow up by calling for billions of dollars to be spent on the country’s ‘first ever national infrastructure plan.’” 

Green transportation experiments get go-ahead – The San Francisco Chronicle  “Seventeen innovative Bay Area transportation projects that aim to combat climate change—ranging from electric taxis and mobile bicycle repair shops to pavement recycling and dynamic ridesharing—will soon get the chance to show their stuff.” 

Christie Ends New Jersey-Manhattan Commuter-Rail Tunnel Project – Bloomberg  “New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ended the largest U.S. mass-transportation project, saying the state couldn’t afford the potential cost overruns of a commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River to New York.” 

High-Speed Rail: Not Just Fast. Smart. – The Huffington Post  “According to a study by the Midwest High-Speed Rail Association, a 220-mph high speed rail link between Chicago and St. Louis would create 40,000 jobs.” 

New U.S. Standards Take Aim at Truck Emissions and Fuel Economy – The New York Times  “The federal government announced the first national emissions and fuel economy standards for heavy vehicles on Monday, one of a series of regulatory steps that the Obama administration is taking to increase energy efficiency and reduce atmospheric pollution in the absence of Congressional action on climate change.” 

Resources

• EPA and NHTSA Propose First-Ever Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improve Fuel Efficiency of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles 
• UK National Infrastructure Plan 2010      
• Analysis of Electric Drive Technologies For Transit Applications: Battery-Electric, Hybrid-Electric, and Fuel Cells 

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Contact Information

For comments, suggestions or submissions, please contact Chantal Hayes, Communications Associate, at chayes@metroplanning.org or 312-863-6019.