The last of four companies that manufacture electric buses is in Augusta to show off its product. Gillig, a California-based company, has been in Augusta since Sept. 20, meeting with Augusta Transit officials and offering free test rides on selected routes.
The company brought a 40-foot, battery-powered electric bus for the visit. It can accommodate 38 seated passengers and up to 37 standing. It uses the Cummins electrified powertrain.
Javier Hernandez, Jr., Gillig’s director of national sales, said their electric bus can be outfitted with front or rear charge ports, roof-mounted charge rails or chassis-mounted inductive charging.
“I would expect the Augusta Transit team should expect 180 – 200 miles on a full charge,” he said. “In general, it could take anywhere from two to six hours to complete a full charge.”
MORE: Another Electric Bus Tested in Augusta
Hernandez said Augusta Transit is familiar with the Gillig and Cummins products. Several of the department’s newer diesel buses are from Gillig with Cummins engines. If selected to supply the city with electric buses, the company would train transit department employees and mechanics on the new vehicles.
Oliver Page, deputy director of Augusta Transit, said electric buses are more expensive, with prices ranging from $800,000 to $1 million compared to the $450,000 to $500,000 for a diesel bus. However, with fewer moving parts than a traditional diesel bus, an electric bus has lower maintenance costs. The break-even point, where lower maintenance costs offset the higher purchase price, is reached in about five years. Buses are generally in service for 12 to 15 years.
Augusta Transit previously had presentations by New Flyer, based in Canada and Build Your Dreams/BYD and Proterra, both of California.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
