As part of its commitment to sustainability, UCLA will have its first all-electric shuttle bus in early 2018.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has placed an order for a new all-electric shuttle bus, powered by Motiv Power Systems’ All-Electric Powertrain, continuing the school’s commitment to sustainability.
The zero-emission bus is the first Motiv powered shuttle bus to operate on a university campus. The first set of Motiv-powered shuttle buses were created for the city of Mountain View in Northern California in 2015.
Developed in partnership with Commercial Fleet Financing, the bus is projected to be delivered in early 2018. It will transport students, patients, and campus visitors between the UCLA Santa Monica and UCLA Westwood health facilities.
“UCLA is leading the way in alternative fuel vehicles and we’re thrilled to help them further their sustainability goals,” said Motiv CEO Jim Castelaz. “With predictable routes that allow time for a full recharge, our All-Electric Powertrain is an ideal solution for university campus vehicles, and we look forward to helping more educational institutions realize both the financial and environmental benefits of an all-electric fleet.”
The cost of the shuttle was funded in part by the California Air Resource Board’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP. The HVIP grant allowed the purchase of the batteries and electric powertrain, providing UCLA a zero-emission shuttle for the same cost as its fossil fuel counterparts.
UCLA’s shuttle bus will be equipped with a wheelchair lift, space for two wheelchairs, WiFi connectivity and bicycle racks on the outside of the vehicle, and will be able to transport up to 20 people at a time.
