CARTA Set To Launch One Of Nation's 1st Full-Size All-Electric Transit Buses

  • Saturday, August 18, 2018

CARTA has taken delivery on one of the nation's first full-size all-electric transit buses.

Officials said the bus may be ready for the road in about two weeks after some final touchups, including adding a radio.

Only one other city - in Washington state - has this type bus on the road.

Chattanooga will be the first in the country with three of the models. Two others are on order, but are expected here soon.

The 32-passenger bus has few moving parts so there is very little maintenance, including no oil to change. Its hundreds of small batteries are expected to last the 14-year life of the bus.

The new all-electric bus has a range of about 140 miles.

It will be charged overnight by plugging it in at the Wilcox headquarters. That takes about five hours. For a quick charge on the road, the bus can drive over a charging mechanism at the Shuttle South garage by the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

The bus has a "kneeling" mechanism that drops it low to the ground so wheelchairs can get in easily.

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