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SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System announced on Friday the order for a dozen 60-foot battery-powered electric buses to provide service on the new all-electric Iris Rapid.
This new route is intended to provide fast, limited-stop service in the South Bay area, from Otay Mesa to Imperial Beach via State Route 905 and Coronado Avenue. Its opening is scheduled for early 2023.
“Purchasing these buses for our region’s first fully electric rapid route is a huge step forward towards a greener future, environmental justice, sustainability and better air quality,†said Nathan Fletcher, chairman of the board of directors of MTS and president of San Diego. Departmental Supervisory Council. “MTS will also put five new 40-foot electric buses into service over the next few weeks, adding to its existing fleet of eight electric buses. When the Iris Rapid is in service, MTS will have 25 electric buses in service.
The transition to a fully electric fleet is part of the MTS Zero-Emissions Bus program, which aims to achieve a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2040. The Iris Rapid will connect passengers with the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley at Iris Avenue transit center.
For this latest electric bus order, MTS selected New Flyer of America Inc., a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc.
“Over the past 30 years, NFI has delivered over 600 buses to MTS,†said Paul Soubry, President and CEO of NFI. “It was one of the first transit companies in the United States to switch to a fleet of compressed natural gas buses, and it is a pioneer in sustainable mobility.
“We are delighted to continue to support MTS as it moves towards California’s clean and innovative transportation goal of a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2040,” he said.
Electric buses are equipped with advanced modular battery packaging, long-range batteries and a lightweight traction system.
Copyright 2021, City News Service, Inc.
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