Liz Kirchner
BLACKSBURG – In the fall of 2021, Blacksburg Transit will add five all-electric buses to its fleet, replacing five of its conventional diesel buses.
On average, nation-wide, a heavy-duty bus’ gas mileage is 3.5 miles to the gallon. An average bus consumes about 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year according to BT Director Tom Fox.
Buses last about 12 years and a diesel bus’ annual operating cost is about $24,000 according to Fox.
While the operating cost of an electric bus is a preliminary estimate and will depend on the cost of electricity and the time of day the buses are re-charged, Fox said, the estimated annual cost of operating an electric bus will be about $6,000.
“As transportation providers we’re always looking for innovative and effective ways to help improve the quality of life in our community,” Fox said. “These five electric buses and fast charging stations will help us reduce our carbon footprint while at the same time reduce our operational costs and dependence on fossil fuels.”
Blacksburg is among the state’s public transportation innovators.
“Just this week the town’s public works department received two electric Nissan Leaf sedans to be used as support vehicles,” Fox said. “BT has been an early adopter of technology in general, for example, a mobile app for customers that was developed in-house years ago, automatic passenger counters on the buses, and an on-going partnership with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute on transportation research projects.”
Last week, a demonstration bus similar to those that will be added to the BT fleet was traveling around the country. It came through Blacksburg on its way to Atlanta. Blacksburg staff and employees and even people on the street noted how quiet they are, said Fox.
Funding for the $6.9 million project was provided by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and Virginia and Department of Environmental Quality and other federal and local sources.
The DEQ funds are part of the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Trust) that the state received as part of its settlement.
BT is one of three transit agencies that were awarded funding for electric buses (Alexandria Transit and Hampton Roads Transit are the others).
The electric buses funded by these grants will be the first in Virginia.
The buses are made by New Flyer, an 88-year-old North American manufacturer with over 50 years of experience in manufacturing zero-emission buses according to its website.
Over the last three years, ridership on Blacksburg Transit has increased by 30 percent and a ridership record of 4.6 million trips was reached this fiscal year.
“BT serves a very environmentally conscious community with a strong interest in technology. This project fits in nicely with that culture and is consistent with BT’s efforts to be on the forefront of advancements in public transportation,” Fox said.
While Blacksburg is forward-thinking, Fox says expect autonomous buses, but not in the near future.
For more information about New Flyer, visit www.newflyer.com and about Blacksburg Transit, contact Ken Tucker at ktucker@blacksburg.gov or 540-443-1591.
