StarMetro, the public transit system of the City of Tallahassee, Fla., has agreed to purchase 22 Proterra Catalyst FC electric buses to service Florida State University (FSU).
This latest deal brings the StarMetro fleet to 27 battery-electric buses, says Proterra. Since operating its first battery-electric buses over five years ago, StarMetro has logged over 313,000 miles of revenue service with five Proterra buses to date.
The new 35-foot Proterra Catalyst FC buses will serve FSU’s Seminole Express Bus Service and provide campus transportation for faculty, staff, students and visitors, totaling an average ridership of 847,000 each year. Operations are expected to begin mid-2019 with an initial deployment of 15 buses, with the remaining seven buses expected to deploy in 2021.
This procurement supports the goals defined in FSU’s strategic plan to deepen its commitment to continuous innovation, invest strategically and incorporate sustainable living practices into all FSU activities. With the 22 new Catalyst buses, the university will displace more than 2.82 million gallons of diesel over the vehicles’ 12-year lifespan and eliminate over 5 million pounds of carbon emissions annually, says Proterra. Further, the new buses are expected to provide fuel and maintenance cost savings of more than $10 million. FSU is transitioning to a 100% zero-emission university bus fleet.
“As university populations grow across the United States, more campus transportation operators are taking the long view and looking for sustainable ways to increase mobility while reducing costs and their carbon footprint,” comments Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “Helping universities and the next-generation of leaders experience zero-emission transit is intrinsic to our vision.”
Proterra has also sold its Catalyst buses to the University of Montana, Duke University and Alabama A&M University.
