MINNEAPOLIS — Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and the Metropolitan Council will be revealing the newest addition to Metro Transit's fleet on Thursday.
Metro Transit's first electric bus will be unveiled at 1:15 p.m. at the transit's Minneapolis location on Sixth Avenue.
The company said that the reveal is to mark being "one step closer" to the new METRO C Line and the goal of bringing electric buses to the Twin Cities.
Metro Transit partnered with Xcel Energy and manufacturer New Flyer in this new effort.
The C Line is meant to largely replace Route 19 service between downtown Minneapolis and the Brooklyn Center Transit Center.
The new 60-foot battery-electric buses will be among the first put into service in the United States.
"What we know is that as the electrical grid becomes more and more clean, more use of solar and wind technology, we'll benefit from that as well so that there's even less of a carbon or fossil fuel impact related to how we transport folks," said Brian Funk, deputy chief operating officer for bus at Metro Transit.
According to the company, this first 60-foot electric bus will be the first of eight.
$1.75 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration will help pay for a portion of the buses and technology needed to charge them. Charging stations will be placed at Metro Transit's Heywood Garage and at the Brooklyn Center Transit Center. On a full charge, the buses can run for up to 150 miles.
According to Funk, one 60-foot battery-electric bus costs a little over a million dollars. While the buses cost more upfront, Funk said they will save money on maintenance costs and will have fewer midlife overhauls and replacements.
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