E-bus program will help reduce emissions in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The wheels on the bus keep turning as OUC, LYNX and the City of Orlando take the next step in their partnership to bring battery electric buses to Orlando. The program supports the combined goal of less emissions and cleaner air in Central Florida.
The first bus recently arrived in Orlando. LYNX will add 14 battery electric buses to its fleet later this year, partly funded by a previously announced $1.9 million “Low or No Emission Grant” from the Federal Transit Administration. The buses will operate on the LYMMO Grapefruit, Lime and North Quarter lines, removing emissions from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Support from OUC, the Center for Transportation and the Environment, the City of Orlando, and bus manufacturer Proterra, Inc. was instrumental to the grant application’s success.
Additionally, OUC is assisting in the procurement of charging stations and batteries to help LYNX successfully deploy the project. Through the electric bus pilot program, LYNX will benefit from real-world operating experiences and OUC from important battery performance data. The addition of the electric bus program brings the City one step closer to its 2040 goal of increased electric vehicle use.
According to the EPA, the transportation sector is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. As part of its environmental commitment, OUC has committed $45 million to date for innovative electrification programs.