Following the award of $9.5 million in funding by the California Air Resources Board, the City of Porterville in California will be acquiring and deploying 10 GreenPower Motor Company EV350, 40-foot, all-electric transit buses (in addition to various charging infrastructure), according to an email sent to EV Obsession.
The charging infrastructure being acquired will reportedly include 11 charging stations for the all-electric buses. The plan is apparently for the new buses and Chang equipment to allow all 9 Porterville Transit routes to go electric.
“We look forward to working with GreenPower in replacing our aging active-fleet to 100% electric buses that produce zero emissions,” commented Richard Tree, Transit Manager, Porterville Transit. “Substantial grants like this one are driving the entire industry forward, and making all-electric the new norm in public transportation, while playing a significant role in accomplishing our mission to improve the environment in our community and the Valley.”
A press release on the matter provides further information: “CARB’s award to the City of Porterville was one of only 9 awards from the highly competitive Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Pilot Program. The grant award is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing clean-air benefits to California neighborhoods, with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities. California Climate Investments programs are funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund using proceeds from the state’s cap-and-trade auctions.”
As part of the bus upgrade, Porterville Transit will apparently begin operating “all of the new buses on routes in disadvantaged communities — those most affected by air pollution — providing zero-emission transportation to many citizens who are dependent on public transportation for their daily needs.”
The Mayor of Porterville, Milt Stowe, commented as well: “With sincere gratitude to the support of the California Air Resources Board and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and in partnership with GreenPower, the City of Porterville is excited at the unique opportunity for fleet-wide implementation of the latest in electric transit technology in service to our community. We are thrilled by the commitment by GreenPower Motor Company to establish its manufacturing facility in Porterville and the hundreds of local jobs it will generate, in addition to the economic and technological benefit to the greater San Joaquin Valley.”
That last bit is in reference to the fact that GreenPower recently acquired 9.3 acres of property in the city which it will be developing a 150,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on.