As part of its efforts to transform a mostly diesel fleet to all electric by 2035, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit launched its first group of electric buses Thursday morning, Earth Day 2021.
Proterra, an automotive and energy storage company based southeast of San Francisco, delivered seven 40-foot ZX5+ buses to TCAT in March.
The buses, estimated at around $1 million each, were funded by several federal, state and local funders, including the city of Ithaca, Tompkins County and Cornell University.
“Earth Day is a fitting day for us to celebrate this important TCAT milestone and marks our community’s long-standing commitment toward lowering carbon emissions, and we have many people to thank for that,” TCAT General Manager Scot Vanderpool said. “TCAT’s aim is to transform what is now a mostly diesel-powered fleet to all electric by 2035 and this day represents our first steps toward meeting that goal, thanks to the help of many of our stakeholders and supporters.”