NORFOLK, Va. — Hampton Roads Transit maintenance garages might look a little "cleaner" in the coming years, as the transportation agency gears up to welcome a more earth-friendly way to get around town.
HRT is getting six new battery-electric buses, each with their own fast chargers.
“Diesel is the dirtiest way that we can move around in the transportation system," said Chris Bast, chief deputy of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. “The great thing about electric vehicles is there are no tailpipe emissions... less asthma, less smog, less pollution on the roads.”
The average lifespan of a diesel-run transit bus is 12 years. By switching to electric buses, transit agencies will cut down on millions of gallons of fuel and reduce harmful carbon emissions.
HRT’s Chief Planning and Development Officer, Ray Amoroso, said HRT will be testing the technology to make sure it can match the capabilities of diesel-run buses.
“Can it carry a full passenger load? When you fully charge the bus, can it run the entire length without a recharge?” he questioned, dubbing the acquisition of the buses "exciting."
He pointed out that the new buses not only use cleaner energy, but they will also save HRT money.
"A diesel bus, annually, uses almost $20,000 a year in fuel. An electric bus is going to use energy at the equivalency of about $3,200 so that’s about almost a $17,00 savings for each bus that we employ,” he said. “In terms of emissions and local air quality, these are going to be much more energy-efficient vehicles.”
HRT is one of three transit systems in Virginia getting new buses. The governor’s office announced more than $12 million in funding statewide, with $9 million coming from the state’s legal settlement with Volkswagen over claims it violated the clean air act.
“It’s completely intended to take older diesel vehicles out of the statewide transit fleet,” said Jennifer DeBruhl, chief of public transportation for Virginia's Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
“These are the first electric buses that are going into service in Virginia so we see this as an opportunity to really hit the ground running.”
The buses will arrive next year and go into service in 2021.