(Washington, DC) – Mayor Muriel Bowser today celebrated #EarthWeekDC by unveiling the District’s new electric DC Circulator buses at the Downtown BID’s Annual State of Downtown Forum. The new fleet of buses, which will take to the road on May 1, includes 14 buses – the largest electric bus fleet in the DC region, and one of the largest electric bus fleets nationwide.
“A growing city needs growing transportation options. These new electric buses will provide residents and visitors with one more sustainable, reliable, and affordable way to get around the District,” said Mayor Bowser. “With this greener, more modern fleet of buses on the road, we are building a safer, stronger, and more sustainable DC.”
The new Proterra E2 Catalyst Electric Buses are manufactured in the United States and run on 100 percent battery electric propulsion. The battery-electric vehicles will bring clean, quiet, zero-emission transportation to more than 4.8 million annual riders and the Circulator’s 189 drivers across all six distinct Circulator routes. Additionally, each bus is equipped with public Wi-Fi, a pedestrian safety alert system, and an infotainment system – a digital display providing riders with valuable commute information.
The new fleet comes on the heels of the 2017 release of 26 New Flyer Clean Diesel DC Circulator vehicles and the buses are expected to reduce harmful emissions and offer greater passenger economy.
“As one of the most vibrant and visited cities in the nation, Washington, DC, is the perfect place to introduce technology that not only dramatically reduces emissions, but also fundamentally improves the rider experience,” said CEO of Proterra, Ryan Popple. “We are proud to partner with The District Department of Transportation (DDOT), WMATA and DCST to democratize zero-emission transportation throughout DC and continue to raise the bar for its local and national sustainability partners.”
“We applaud this leadership effort by the government of the District of Columbia to incorporate new, clean, and efficient electric buses into their fleet,” said Donna Cooper, Pepco region president. “The electrification of our transportation sector is an essential component to reducing carbon emissions in the District. Pepco is committed to clean energy initiatives, and we look forward to supporting more efforts like this that are helping to integrate clean energy, improve public health, and protect the environment.”
The Circulator, which only costs $1 per ride, currently provides door-to-door transportation to more than 25 museums, monuments, and memorials along the National Mall, providing more than five millions trips each year. With the Catalyst E2 buses, the DC Circulator will displace more than 88,900 gallons of diesel per year and eliminate more than 243,980 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. Over their 12-year lifetime, the 14 Proterra buses will also reduce fuel and maintenance costs by than $6 million.
This initiative was supported by Proterra, Pepco, and the District Department of Transportation.