Staff Presentation to Transit Advisory Committee May 1, 2014 Alternative Fuel Choices All-Electric Buses

Electric Buses – Emerging Technology BYD Bus of China Proterra Bus of South Carolina E-bus of Downey, CA

Electric Buses – BYD LAX Shuttle Trial University Shuttle Trial California Demo Long Beach Transit Testing

All-Electric Buses Who are the major players? Two major players with different technologies: BYD (Build Your Dreams) Chinese Company with SoCal plant Proterra Inc. of South Carolina, originally from Denver, CO How do BYD All Electric Buses Work? Plug-In charging, 1.5 to 5 hours depending on level of infrastructure (in bus yard most likely) Proprietary Iron- Phosphate battery, meets roughly 80% of urban transit needs with typical range of 155+ miles How do Proterra All Electric Buses Work? EcoRide™ BE35 battery electric bus Proprietary composite body reduces weight approximately % over a conventional bus, is crash and element resistant and designed for the battery-electric drive technology. Terra-Volt charging system can be charged in under 10 minutes

BYD Electric Buses Charging Require significant investment at transit yard for plug in charging, from 1.5 to 5 hours depending on voltage Range on full charge of 155 miles, adequate for PT needs No infrastructure needed at transit centers Long life battery projected to have 80% life remaining at 12 year mark, and promoted as non-toxic Possible “in-ground” quicker charging planned that could be deployed at transit centers Issues – Status of Availability and Market Share Not in normal revenue service anywhere in USA Issues with durability arose during recent Altoona testing Limited but successful trials have been done in USA New plant in SoCal will help towards “Buy America” laws Cutting edge technology – foreign manufacturer - unproven

Proterra All Electric More established, American company, started in Denver in 1990s, manufacturing famous 16 th Street Mall shuttles Utilizes proprietary “fast fill” charging stations designed to work at transit centers, where buses spend a few minutes every cycle, charges in minutes Powered by UQM PowerPhase® 150 permanent magnet (PM) motor. The drive motor is coupled to a three-speed transmission designed to meet the requirements of Proterra’s heavy-duty transit applications.

Benefits of Mature All-Electric Buses Projected benefits of all electric buses Zero emissions (not counting electricity generation) Fuel savings, estimated cost ~$.21 per mile, versus diesel around $ per mile Quiet operation Eco-friendly boost to marketing of transit system Problems Dramatically Increased Purchase Costs – 20% local match will be far more and likely beyond capabilities Design still being perfected, very little real world experiences Petaluma would be invested far beyond larger transit agencies and would suffer “bleeding edge technology” problems Maintenance staff need to train on new technology Lack of professional and technical staff makes choice poor

All Electric Thoughts A “game changing” technology for transit? Most likely a common technology for transit systems in 20+ years - once larger agencies adopt and evolve the technology Appropriate for daring Large Agencies with Resources and ability to obtain special R&D Federal Grants Limited mass production (Proterra) and deployment Large change in infrastructure – similar to CNG conversion Good eventual fit for Petaluma Transit operating environment Short, repetitive, “loop” routes, with short periods of “dwell time” at central transfer point that could host expensive recharging equipment, rather than infrastructure in yard Will require protection of, and likely expansion of, the Eastside Transit Center, and perhaps Copeland Transit Mall Little shop modification – but much mechanic training Huge savings in fuel costs – stretches limited operating $$

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