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All-Electric Bus Takes A Spin Around Portland

Irwin Gratz
/
Maine Public
A demonstration all-electric bus took a drive around downtown Portland Tuesday.

An all-electric bus drove around downtown Portland at lunchtime Tuesday.  The Greater Portland Metro Bus system and the Shuttlebus-Zoom bus system serving Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach are considering ordering a few with funding from a federal grant.

At a press event in Portland, Al Schultz, general manager of the Shuttlebus-Zoom service, said the time for electric buses has come.

"How many years have we been talking about alternative fuels? I mean, when are we going to do something?" he said. "Talk's cheap, you know. So, we have an opportunity. I think with Greg Jordan of Metro, together we can get this thing over the line."

Metro General Manager Greg Jordan said electric buses may cost as much as $200,000 more than similar, diesel buses.

"The technology involved in sophisticated, the battery system is very costly to implement," Jordan said at a press event in Portland. "However, we expect - and all the research has shown - that over the life of the bus, you will save on fuel savings, and also lower maintenance costs.  And you'll more than make up the extra cost of the vehicle in those savings over the life of the bus."

The bus in Portland Tuesday is from a company called Proterra. Jordan says other companies' products will be looked at. 

Jordan says the two transit agencies, with help from the state, will put in this spring for a federal grant.  If it's approved, it would help pay for six new buses that would be run by the two services.

A demonstration, all-electric bus will be on display in Augusta Thursday.