[tabi] Re: Fwd: City of Tallahassee News Release - StarMetro - It's Electric!
- From: "Chip and Allie Orange" <acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:07:15 -0400
Yep Robert; it could be they aren’t a good idea, but it’s one of those ideas
which you don’t really know until you try it.
The second point is that just like the “cash for clunkers” program, the feds
were looking for ways to spend money to get the economy going again; so for
that reason, spending it on anything at all is a good reason to spend it.
Someone put these two thoughts together, along with concern over the planet,
and decided a few electric buses wwere a good idea for spending money and
trying something which might work out.
I’m not really arguing for or against electric vehicles; I don’t have strong
opinions there, but I can at least see why they did it.
We’ve got Brian Waterman now participating on TABI; asking our thoughts and
answering our questions, I also didn’t want to give him anything other than a
friendly and appreciative welcome. Right now, I bet I’m one of the biggest
riders of StarMetro on this list, so I appreciate having an ear to listen to
any thoughts or problems I have.
Chip
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Easy Talk
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 5:43 AM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: Fwd: City of Tallahassee News Release - StarMetro - It's
Electric!
I get your point Chip but it is still a waste of federal dollars in a bad
economy and nothing is free. I am sure repairs are very expensive and
maintance staff have to be trained to work on them. also now you have charging
stations which will require man power also.
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: Chip and Allie Orange <mailto:acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 7:03 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: Fwd: City of Tallahassee News Release - StarMetro - It's
Electric!
Ok; I’m sure you guys are right about what is needed, but these were a free
gift from the feds, who want to get us to look at electric vehicles. It’s not
like StarMetro had any choice in how to spend the money.
They do end up with more buses, which could mean more service in some form.
I don’t think we should beat up on them unless there’s a choice to be made, and
we want them to make a particular one. If you want more night service, etc.,
go to the guys who control the money (the city commissioners), and ask them to
do it. It’s their job to listen to us and decide how the money is spent, and
what to pay for.
Chip
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
wendy.hoss@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 8:36 AM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: Fwd: City of Tallahassee News Release - StarMetro - It's
Electric!
Amen Robert, we could sure use night services a lot more than electric buses.
I would love to be able to go places at night.
_____
From: "Easy Talk" <Easytalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 5:43:50 AM
Subject: [tabi] Re: Fwd: City of Tallahassee News Release - StarMetro - It's
Electric!
All I can say is if the city can spend 5 million on buses that have to be
charged once a hour then it is going to be pretty hard for them to denigh night
service. That 5 million would sure go a long way for night service.
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: Lynn Evans <mailto:austin.evans60@xxxxxxxxx>
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 10:32 PM
Subject: [tabi] Fwd: City of Tallahassee News Release - StarMetro - It's
Electric!
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: "City of Tallahassee" <City_of_Tallahassee@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: March 18, 2013, 1:36:03 PM EDT
To: <austin.evans60@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: City of Tallahassee News Release - StarMetro - It's Electric!
<http://www.talgov.com/communications/communicationshome.aspx> City of
Tallahassee News Release
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Communications / City Hall / Tallahassee FL 32301 / 850.891.8533
Image removed by sender. COT StarStarMetro - It's Electric!
Construction Begins on FastFill Charging Station for Electric Buses
March 18, 2013
StarMetro is one step closer to launching its brand new all-electric,
zero-emission buses. This week, the transit agency will begin construction on a
fast charge station at C.K. Steele Plaza. This FastFill charging station,
manufactured by Proterra Inc., will charge the electric buses at the central
transfer station in as little as ten minutes.
"When fully implemented, we will have five electric buses in operation, which
will be the largest electric bus fleet in the nation," said City Commissioner
Scott Maddox, who serves on the city's Long Range Planning Target Issue
Committee. "This action, along with our commitment to compressed natural gas
fueling, once again reflects Tallahassee as a leader in sustainability and in
finding ways to efficiently help our citizens travel throughout the community.
The fact that we have been awarded over $7 million in federal grants also shows
that our work is being recognized on a national level."
Ivan Maldonado, interim executive director of StarMetro, said the decision to
place the Proterra FastFill charging station at C.K. Steele Plaza will
eliminate the need for the electric buses to go off line to receive a charge at
StarMetro's main facility on Appleyard Drive. "With the charging station at
the plaza, the electric buses can rapidly recharge on-route as customers unload
and board the bus."
To recharge at the Proterra FastFill charging station, an electric bus simply
pulls into the plaza and automatically connects with an overhead system that
links to the bus' high-capacity charger. The charging station includes advanced
wireless controls that facilitate the docking process. The wireless controls
identify that the electric bus is present and then automatically guides and
connects the bus with the charging station, free from coach operator
involvement.
In order to keep customers away from the charging station, StarMetro will
construct a wall surrounding the high-voltage area. This wall will feature
individual block pieces that are cast with a design, and then installed along
the wall. The design, created by artists, will depict the transition of nature
and energy through the seasons. This design will be visible by motorists and
StarMetro customers in the plaza.
Staff expects construction to be completed by July, weather permitting. After a
month-long testing period, the fast charge station will be operational, and the
electric buses can begin service. By the end of August, the electric buses
should be fully operational.
"Once our new electric buses are in service, we will be the first transit
agency in the state of Florida and the first of the east coast to operate these
revolutionary electric buses," said Maldonado. "We are proud to be on the
cutting edge of technology, changing the transportation industry to better
serve our loyal customers and keep our impact on the environment to a minimum."
In 2010, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded StarMetro over $5
million dollars of the Transit Investments for Green Gas and Energy Reduction
(TIGGER) II grant in order to purchase three all-electric buses and construct a
charging station. The following year, StarMetro signed a contract with Proterra
for the production of these buses and charging station. Last year, FTA upped
its award to StarMetro by $2 million dollars for the purchase of two additional
electric buses. With the delivery of the two additional electric buses, which
are currently under construction, StarMetro will have five all-electric buses
in its fleet.
For more information about StarMetro services, please call StarMetro's main
office at 891-5200 or visit Talgov.com/starmetro
<http://www.talgov.com/starmetro> . Other ways to view information include
liking StarMetro's official Facebook page at Facebook.com/starmetrotransit
<http://www.facebook.com/starmetrotransit> or following the organization on
Twitter at Twitter.com/ridestarmetro <http://www.twitter.com/ridestarmetro> .
CONTACT: Ivan Maldonado, StarMetro Interim Executive Director, 891-5044; or
Heather Teter, StarMetro Marketing Specialist, 891-5206
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