Greenlink is adding six new Proterra buses to its electric fleet thanks to a grant from the Federal Transit Administration.
Greenlink received more than $5.2 million to purchase the 35-foot Proterra Catalyst E2 battery electric buses and associated charging equipment to meet ridership demands, according to a news release.
More than $130 million in grants were distributed to 41 recipients around the country through the FTA’s Low- or No-Emission (Low-No) Grant program. Greenlink was the only transit agency in South Carolina to be awarded funding, the release states.
The Low-No grant program funds the deployment of transit buses and infrastructure through the purchase or lease of zero- or low-emission buses and supporting facilities.
Greenlink’s current fleet includes four 40-foot Proterra Catalyst E2 electric buses, which were purchased using Low-No funding in 2017 and deployed in June 2019. The new 35-foot buses will provide better maneuverability, allowing Greenlink to use them on routes with narrower streets while boosting operational efficiency. Proterra Catalyst buses also produce zero tailpipe emissions, according to the release.
“The Low-No grant provides us with the opportunity to simultaneously improve air quality and transform the perception of public transportation in Greenville with a modernized fleet,” James Keel, Greenlink’s director of transportation, said in a statement.
Delivery of the new buses will coincide with the completion of Greenlink’s new maintenance facility project in 2023.
The Low-No grant is being matched with a $1 million local financial commitment, including $600,000 from the Michelin Foundation and $100,000 from Hollingsworth Funds.
