The DC Circulator is adding electric buses

Come May 1, many D.C. Circulator buses will be battery-powered.

According to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office, a fleet of 14 electric buses are set to roll out across all six Circulator routes. That means 18 percent of the buses on the Circulator will be electric.

We are so proud to bring the largest fleet of 100% Electric buses on the East Coast to our world-class capital city. Thank you @MayorBowser @DDOTDC @Proterra_Inc @PepcoConnect for making this happen for our riders and drivers. https://t.co/HCVOGEB3Sx #MeetTheFleetDC pic.twitter.com/JtVrWizptM

— DC Circulator (@DCCirculator) April 20, 2018

The buses were built by Proterra, a Burlingame, Calif.–based company that specializes in zero-emission vehicles. Per Proterra figures, estimates indicate the buses will displace more than 88,900 gallons of diesel per year, and eliminate more than 243,980 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. Along with using less energy, the buses also cost less to maintain, Proterra says. The buses have a range of about 250 miles when charged.

“We are proud to partner with DDOT, WMATA and DCST, which have made zero-emission transportation for D.C. possible and continue to raise the bar for its passengers and community alike,” Proterra CEO Ryan Popple said in a statement.