Proterra
Bus
The
Proterra Catalyst XR (eXtended Range) bus is a forty-foot passenger bus made
for urban and suburban use as a transit or near-range transport vehicle. It
contains eight NMC Li-ion battery packs with a total capacity of 257 kWh.
For
the test, which took place at the Michelin Laurens Proving Grounds, the bus
averaged 30 miles per hour and utilized about 0.8kWh per mile. The test was
designed to mimic use as a transit bus in a semi-urban environment.
The
Proterra Catalyst XR is one of two electric buses that Proterra makes, the
other utilizing different battery technology to emphasize fast charging (called
the Catalyst FC). Proterra also makes a hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus. The XR
model is a new model under development and is made to be more flexible in its
usage capabilities, but maintains compatability with Proterra's fast-charging
system. It requires 90 minutes to fully recharge with those units, about double
the time of the FC.
Proterra
believes that this test shows that the 10-pack system planned for the
production Catalyst XR would give it a 300 mile range under average operating
conditions. A typical urban and rural bus route averages about 200 miles per
day.
Low
operational cost-per-mile has been a fixed goal for the Proterra buses from teh
start. Compared to diesel, compressed natural gas, or diesel-electric hybrid
buses, the Proterra has a faster return on investment with a 12-year savings of
about US$ 135,000 in maintenance, down time, and fuel costs.
