The City of South Pasadena, Calif., recently purchased its first electric vehicle, the ZEUS 305 from Phoenix Motorcars LLC. The bus debuted in the city’s annual Fourth of July parade and has been consistently used by its Dial-A-Ride program ever since.
Based out of the South Pasadena Senior Center, Dial-A-Ride is the city’s public transportation service designed to meet the needs of seniors and disabled residents. On a daily basis, the ZEUS bus shuttles passengers to and from their medical appointments, in addition to their leisurely activities, such as shopping, aerobics classes, and luncheons.
“The City of South Pasadena Dial-A-Ride is pleased to have this new vehicle as part of its fleet,” says Director of Community Services Sheila Pautsch. “As the first city in the nation to be recognized by the American Green Zone Alliance, I am pleased that we can continue to protect and preserve the environment while providing reliable service to our constituents. The city is committed to its residents and environmental conservation and is pleased this bus is able to serve both. I look forward to adding more electric vehicles to its fleet.”
Equipped with a wheelchair lift and ramp meeting ADA specifications and offering up to 100 miles range on a full charge, the ZEUS 305 bus is well suited to meet the special requirements of senior citizens, providing curb-to-curb pickup and drop-off services, according to Phoenix Motorcars.
“Phoenix Motorcars is driven by the mission to delivery cutting-edge transportation solutions with minimal impact on our environment. It’s an honor to see our products being pressed into the service for the senior citizens of our communities,” says Emad Fakhoury, CEO of California-based Phoenix Motorcars.
According to the company, the bus’ fast charging capability allows for the vehicle to be fully charged in less than three hours, and the shuttle is expected to reduce more than 60 tons of carbon dioxide every year as compared to a conventional diesel shuttle.
Electric is the way to go