Proterra Catalyst XR Electric Bus Has 258 Mile Range

Getting a bunch of people to ride along in a single bus rather than a bunch of individual cars is an important element of more sustainable, environmentally-friendly transportation. Getting those buses to operate on electricity takes the whole thing a step further, as electric buses could be recharged using electricity from solar panels and wind. Range is a big issue, though, making the Proterra Catalyst XR an important creation.

Proterra introduced the bus last month; it has zero emissions and measures in at 40ft in length. Despite its size, testing at Michelin's Laurens Proving Grounds demonstrated it has a range of 258 miles on a charge, making it a feasible option for actual real-world use. The range is made possible, in part, by 8 battery packs.

The Catalyst has a 257kWh capacity in this configuration. Using the data it has, the company estimates its XR model with the ten pack configuration will have a range of 300 miles on a charge. This would make it feasible for use on common bus routes in the United States; such buses are found to usually travel under 200 miles per day.

In addition, the bus is said to have low maintenance costs — using one rather than a traditional bus will save a city about $135,000 in maintenance costs over the course of a dozen years. Production plans aren't clear at this point.

SOURCE: Gizmag