TriMet and PGE use wind to power e-buses in Portland

Authorities in Oregon, US, are embracing wind power as a means of meeting transport emissions commitments. TriMet (Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon) has joined forces with Portland General Electric (PGE) to power its all-electric buses with wind energy. TriMet says the move supports its ambition to run a non-diesel fleet by 2040. Maria Pope, PGE president, says: "This all-electric bus line is a sustainable transportation option for the community and another step closer to a cle
April 25, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Authorities in Oregon, US, are embracing wind power as a means of meeting transport emissions commitments.

1272 TriMet (Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon) has joined forces with 1067 Portland General Electric (PGE) to power its all-electric buses with wind energy.

TriMet says the move supports its ambition to run a non-diesel fleet by 2040.

Maria Pope, PGE president, says: "This all-electric bus line is a sustainable transportation option for the community and another step closer to a clean energy future for Oregon.”

The New Flyer Xcelsior Charge bus will join four matching e-buses which will operate on TriMet Line 62-Murray Boulevard in Washington County.

Four e-buses were funded by a $3.4 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low and No Emission Vehicle Deployment programme while the fifth vehicle was purchased by TriMet and PGE. In August 2018, TriMet received a second FTA grant which will provide five additional e-buses.

The company says the buses have electric motors powered by energy stored in the rechargeable battery packs and will reduce emissions by around 75 tonnes per year compared to its eight diesel-hybrid buses.

According to TriMet, regenerative braking allows the vehicle to capture kinetic energy as it slows, which can then be used or stored in the battery for later use.

The buses are equipped with low-floor boarding and extension ramp, climate control and seating for up to 40 people.

Over the next five to six years, TriMet intends to purchase up to 80 more e-buses with $53m in funds generated by the Keep Oregon Moving Act. These vehicles will be tested in hilly terrain and local traffic conditions as TriMet will evaluate the performance, cost and reliability of the service.

Networking & Communication Systems

Related Content

  • April 30, 2015
    California aims to reduce emissions 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030
    California’s transportation systems are set for a radical overhaul following Governor Jerry Brown’s Executive order to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030. Figures from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that transportation accounts for 199.3 million tonnes of CO2 - almost 60 per cent of the state’s CO2 emissions, while the next largest is industrial production (62.9 million tonnes), followed by electric power at 36.5 million tonnes, residential us
    Read More
  • December 19, 2013
    First electric buses hit London’s streets
    Transport for London (TfL) and bus operator Go-Ahead London have begun a trial of the capital’s first electric buses on two routes in the city. The 12-metre single deck buses were built by Chinese manufacturer BYD Auto have zero tail pipe emissions, resulting in lower carbon emissions. The trial will help TfL develop plans for greater use of electric buses in central London in the future, supporting the Mayor’s vision of a central London Ultra Low Emission Zone. The trial will be used to establish wh
    Read More
  • April 25, 2012
    Alternative fuel buses gaining significant traction
    According to a recent report from Pike Research, the trend toward cleaner transit buses will continue over the next several years, and by 2015 the cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that alternative fuel vehicles will represent more than 50 per cent of the 64,000 total transit buses that will be delivered worldwide during that year, up from 28 per cent of total bus deliveries in 2010.
    Read More
  • May 9, 2018
    New Flyer deploys transit buses in Orange County
    Bus manufacturer New Flyer of America will deploy ten Xcelsior hydrogen fuel cell electric, heavy-duty transit buses to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). The order is intended to expand zero-emission public transportation across California. The forty-foot vehicles will operate in Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana and Westminster. New Flyer and OCTA are partners in the Fuel Cell Electric Bus Commercialization Consortium project, which aims to establish these vehicles as an industry
    Read More

Highlighted Content