The Votes Are In!
2024 Readers' Choice is back, bigger and better than ever!
View Winners → Home / News / Environment /
LADOT receives $6M grant for electric bus solar charging system
Environment Nov 05, 2021
| Photo courtesy of LADOT via Facebook
by
share with
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation has been awarded a $6 million grant to install one of the largest electric vehicle fleet charging systems in the U.S., powered through a solar and storage microgrid, officials announced Friday.
The grant was given to LADOT by the California Energy Commission, and the charging system will be powered by a microgrid paired with 104 EV chargers.
“Los Angeles is on track to achieve a zero-emission future and our investments in clean transportation systems are driving that progress,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The more electric vehicles we put on our streets today, the more we can lower emissions to ensure a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow.”
The system will support LADOT’s transition to a fully electric bus fleet by 2028. Proterra and Apparent will install the charging microgrid at the Washington Bus Yard, which will be equipped with 1.5 megawatts of rooftop and bus solar canopy and a 4.5MWh energy storage system.
LADOT said the electric vehicle transition will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but will also lower the agency’s electricity costs and provide emergency backup power to allow the agency to operate during an outage.
“Meeting our climate and sustainability goals requires persistent investment and urgent action,” said LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds. “This grant provides an essential support facility as we move closer to our goal of a fully electric fleet.”
The goal to achieve a 100% electrified bus fleet by 2028 was adopted by the city in 2019. Earlier this year, the agency received its 25th battery-electric ZX5 bus from Proterra, and in total the agency has 29 electric buses in its fleet, with 30 additional electric buses expected to be operating by next summer.
“Transit agencies and fleet operators need resilient, reliable charging solutions to help power the switch to electric fleets. This innovative project is a model for how we can power commercial electric vehicle fleets and support a sustainable, clean transportation future with renewable energy solutions. We are excited to extend the benefits of our technology to help power Los Angeles’ transition to zero-emission, electric transit buses,” said Gareth Joyce, President of Proterra.
