GoTriangle is quietly gliding toward electric buses
GoTriangle is moving ahead to electrify its fleet, thanks to its Board of Trustees’ approval May 24 of about $5.9 million to buy buses five battery-electric buses. The vehicles, expected to be delivered by mid-2025, will replace existing diesel vehicles that have reached the end of their useful life and will bring GoTriangle’s electric fleet to seven buses. The new buses are funded by a combination of local revenues and federal sources. They include the Raleigh Union Station Bus Facility grant and funding that Rep. David Price included in the federal fiscal year 2023 budget for a Congressional Community Project.
Long-term plan: Acquiring more electric buses and sharing regional charging with transit partners
In addition to these short-term efforts, the ongoing Regional Fleet and Facilities Study will develop attainable long-term goals to convert a larger portion of the fleet to battery-electric propulsion. To date, the study conducted an assessment of available low- and no-emission vehicle propulsion types, fueling and charging infrastructure, funding opportunities and opportunities to partner with other transit service providers within the Triangle.
The study includes an evaluation of future transit service plans to determine vehicle and charging infrastructure needs. The study will also include recommendations for shared regional charging infrastructure supporting reliable operations among multiple transit providers. This work is anticipated to conclude in fall 2023 with adoption of fleet electrification goals by GoTriangle’s board.