The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) recently unveiled the state’s first electric-bus fleet.
RIPTA received part of an order for 14 New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE NG 40-foot battery-electric buses. Each bus costs $1.07 million. Their purchase was funded through the Federal Transit Administration, Volkswagen settlement funds, and RIPTA capital funds.
The remainder of the order will be delivered in the coming months.
The buses will replace the current diesel buses operating on the R-Line connecting Providence and Pawtucket. The line is RIPTA’s most frequent and highest-ridership route.
Traditional 40-foot clean diesel buses emit up to 135 metric tons of greenhouse gas annually. A 40-foot electric bus can save that amount, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
RIPTA’s first fully electric route will lower emissions in many low-income and diverse communities.
“The arrival of these New Flyer electric buses demonstrates RIPTA’s commitment to mitigating climate change and contributing to a zero-emission future,” Scott Avedisian, RIPTA CEO, said.
The state’s first Electric Bus In-Line Charging Station will electrify the fleet. Charging takes an estimated 5 to 9 minutes. Buses will pull into the charging station, and one of four overhead pantographs will lower to the bus bars installed on the roof of the bus to charge.