Amtrak Rolls Out First Ever Electric Bus On Cascades Route In Pacific Northwest

Amtrak has taken a leap forward in its sustainability efforts by introducing its first electric bus on the Pacific Northwest’s Cascades route, replacing a diesel-powered bus.

According to Electrek, the rollout, which took place on Aug. 16, is a collaboration between Amtrak and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The electric bus is set to run between Seattle and Bellingham, bridging the time between the morning and evening trains along the Cascades route.

The new bus, a 45-foot Van Hool CX45e, is powered by a 660 kWh Proterra lithium-ion battery system and boasts a range of 260 miles. It is owned by coach operator MTRWestern and can complete the almost 200-mile round trip on a single charge.

See Also: Will Tesla Snap 6-Day Losing Streak Today? What’s Going On With The Stock

Making use of ABB EV chargers, the charging hub is positioned at MTRWestern’s Seattle premises, which were formerly used to store sizable petroleum tanks. According to Amtrak, the electric bus will save around 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel on an annual basis, reducing CO2 emissions by 109 tons each year.

The incorporation of the electric bus corresponds with Amtrak’s dedication to reaching net-zero emissions by 2045. Currently, the company is evaluating additional routes in the National Network to explore the possibility of employing EVs and alternative fuels.

Jeremy Butzlaff, president of MTRWestern, hailed the introduction of the electric bus as a “transformational step towards even greater EV regional transit,” according to the report.

Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com

Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link.

Read Next: Did Tesla Warn Employees For Unauthorized Cybertruck Photos?

Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal

The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. Learn more.

Photo: Amtrak