Proterra, a company specializing in the manufacture of energy efficient vehicles, announced it has set a record for the most miles traveled by a battery electric bus in a day – traveling more than 700 miles in 24 hours.
During this trip the bus recorded an average fuel economy of nearly 27 miles per gallon – nearly six times that of a diesel bus and seven times that of CNG.
The record was set as part of normal testing conducted on Proterra buses before they are delivered.
The bus used for this test is set to go into revenue service in the Southeastern United States within the next few months.
“This record offers definitive proof that all-electric Proterra buses combine all the durability and functionality of conventional buses, while significantly reducing total cost of ownership, fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions,” said Garrett Mikita, CEO, Proterra.
The test was conducted in mid-April on a route designed to simulate both commuter and central business district routes and drive cycles.
The bus, which ran at an average speed of 24 miles per hour with the HVAC system running, was charged periodically throughout the day, using Proterra’s proprietary fast-charging process. This technology allows a bus to fully charge in less time than it takes to charge a cell phone.