Final check will help company gain federal subsidies for bus purchases

HEIDI HEILBRUNN / Staff

By Ben Szobody
STAFF WRITER
bszobody@greenvilleonline.com
4/15/2011

Proterra said Thursday its first Greenville-made bus is headed to Pennsylva­nia in a public send-off de­signed to demonstrate the company’s commitment to Greenville and support from its suppliers. In the wake of late-night negotiations over a new $30 million investment that would allow the company to again rev up its local business, Proterra officials said at their temporary plant Thursday that em­ployees and suppliers have remained committed to the company. Bus No. 1 rolled off the assembly line in December and has been tested locally ever since, in part to ac­commodate a new trans­mission from supplier BorgWarner, said presi­dent and CEO Jeff Grana­to.

The bus hummed quiet­ly and ferried participants around the plant Thursday. After implementing pro­duction- ready parts, Gra­nato said the first black-­and- white unit now is headed to Altoona, Pa., to complete testing required to unlock federal subsidies for bus purchases. Granato noted the funding has so far made it through the cur­rent federal budget proc­ess.

Bob Geolas, executive di­rector of Clemson Univer­sity’s International Center for Automotive Research, said the people behind the research park know a little about fitful starts, and that he’s excited about Proter­ra’s product and its eventu­al plant at the park.

Dan Hunter of supplier JIT Manufacturing said Thursday his firm’s rela­tionship with Proterra has been strong over the past year, and that he is excited about the future.

Kay Ramsey, of Hage­meyer North America, said the company is committed to a relationship with Pro­terra.

The timing of Proterra’s hiring and production has been delayed by the legal case involving a $20 million investor in the company who pleaded guilty to fraud last month. Granato said the courts have restricted the amount of capital Pro­terra can bring on since January.

With the new $30 mil­lion, the company will be able to bring back em­ployees and production and pay suppliers. He said all sides have reached a verbal agreement, and that a term sheet is waiting for the signature of a receiver in the federal case.

Dale Hill, Proterra’s founder and chairman, said that despite a few ven­dors who have publicly complained, most have been supportive and some have asked how they can help.

He said Proterra has been open with the public about its situation and that the ultimate scope of the company’s work in Green­ville remains unchanged.