GSA Daily Staff Report -Published Nov. 11, 2010

Five urban transit agencies received more than $25 million in federal stimulus grants to purchase 20 fast-charge electric busses and four charging stations.

Greenville’s Proterra Inc. said its products are the only ones to meet the federal requirements.

"Leading transit agencies across the U.S. are turning to Proterra as a trusted expert in all-electric public transportation solutions to reduce operating costs with the added benefits of emissions-free, low-noise operation and greenhouse gas-emission reduction," said Jeff Granato, Proterra president and CEO.

The transit agencies to receive funds are StarMetro in Tallahassee, Fla.; Regional Transportation Commission in Reno, Nev.; Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif.; King County Metro Transit in Seattle, Wash.; and Fresno Area Express in Fresno, Calif.

All will receive federal stimulus grants from the Federal Transit Administration’s Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction Program.

The agencies are not required to purchase Proterra buses or charging stations, but Proterra said its EcoRide BE35 buses and FastFill Charging Stations are the only ones to meet the federal requirements.

But according to a press release issue by Proterra, the agencies will be working toward executing contracts with the Greenville-based bus maker.

"The potential of saving 260 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents each year by replacing diesel buses with Proterra's EcoRide BE35 buses is just too impressive for us not to explore more clean commuting options for our riders,” said Ralph Wilder, superintendent of transit maintentance for StarMetro.

Proterra will manufacture the new orders at its temporary plant off Whitlee Court in Greenville. The company said it plans to break ground on its plant at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research during the next several months.