[tabi] Re: Fwd: City of Tallahassee News Release - StarMetro - It's Electric!

  • From: "Evelyn Worley" <eworley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:25:55 -0400

I wonder how audible the electric buses are compared to the hybrid cars that 
creep around quietly. 

Evelyn Worley, COMS, CVRT
Assistant Director
Lighthouse of the Big Bend
(850) 942-3658 x203
Fax (850) 942-4518

Lighthouse of the Big Bend "Guiding People Through Vision Loss"
3071 Highland Oaks Terrace, Tallahassee, FL 32301

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Easy Talk 
  To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 5:43 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 
    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!


            City of Tallahassee News Release  
            Communications / City Hall / Tallahassee FL 32301 / 850.891.8533  

           
             
            StarMetro - 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. Other ways 
to view information include liking StarMetro's official Facebook page at 
Facebook.com/starmetrotransit or following the organization on Twitter at 
Twitter.com/ridestarmetro.

            CONTACT: Ivan Maldonado, StarMetro Interim Executive Director, 
891-5044; or Heather Teter, StarMetro Marketing Specialist, 891-5206
           

           
             

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