Foothill Transit Launches New Long-Range Proterra Electric Bus Service

The bus, a Proterra Catalyst E2, will charge in-route at a special docking station at the Azusa Intermodal Transit Center [located immediately north of the Gold Line Downtown Azusa Station], allowing for continuous service all day long. At a full charge, the Catalyst E2 can travel a nominal distance of 254 miles. That extended range is vital for Foothill Transit to achieve its all-electric commitment by 2030. The agency serves a geographic area over 300 square miles with 39 fixed-route bus lines, some of which have a round trip distance of over 70 miles.

Foothill Transit was the first in the nation to launch the fast-charge all electric bus back in 2010. Those three initial vehicles were funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Since then the electric fleet has expanded to 32, with another 13 expected by early 2018, of which #2600 is the first to be delivered. The agency intends to keep pushing the innovation envelope as it successfully converts its 330-bus fleet over to all electric vehicles.