EVERETT – This morning, Everett Transit put its first all-electric bus into service. To celebrate, Mayor Cassie Franklin, Congressman Rick Larsen, and Everett Transit held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at College Station.
The bus will go into service later in the afternoon on Route 7, which runs on Evergreen Way and Broadway, connecting Everett Mall to College Station.
The new electric bus is the first of four that will run by the end of the year, all on Route 7. Everett Transit will have three more electric bus next year running on Route 6 along the waterfront from downtown Everett to College Station.
“I’m thrilled to help welcome the first of our all-electric buses,” said Franklin. “By 2022, we’ll have 18 buses moving people throughout Everett, significantly reducing our fuel costs and helping us be better stewards of the environment.”
Funding for this year’s four electric buses was provided by a $3.4 million “Low or No Emission Vehicle Program” grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2016. Everett Transit provided a $600,000 match.
By relying on electricity rather than diesel fuel, Everett Transit expects significant maintenance and fuel savings. This past year, Everett Transit spent $531,000 to fuel its non-hybrid diesel fixed route buses. The agency estimates it will save 76 percent in fuel costs for each bus service hour that switches to electric. Everett Transit will continue to closely track cost savings and other performance data of the buses.
The savings in diesel fuel consumption will also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The first four electric buses will reduce the agency’s diesel fuel consumption by 40,000 gallons per year and reduce its carbon emissions by 900,000 pounds per year.
With much quieter engines, the electric buses will also reduce noise for passengers and neighbors to the bus routes.
In an effort to reduce pollution and long-term maintenance and operational costs, Everett Transit will continue to replace aging buses with the new electric buses. Everett Transit expects half of its 36 buses will be electric by the end of 2022.
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Everett Transit has connected the city of Everett’s neighborhoods and employment centers since 1893, operating local bus and paratransit services by providing nearly two million trips annually. For more information, visit www.EverettTransit.org.