Diesel is out, and electric is in at Rock Region METRO.
Officials at Rock Region METRO announced on Tuesday that five electric buses will replace the remaining diesel vehicles in the Little Rock metro area. These environmentally friendly buses are the first of their kind in Arkansas.
The buses will produce zero carbon dioxide emissions and will be ready for service in July after additional staff training. With an eight-hour charge, the buses can run for 220 to 340 miles, and the batteries come with 12-year warranties.
“Their size and technology were chosen so that METRO can maneuver them efficiently on some of our busiest routes that pass through our most densely populated urban corridors,” said Avery.
In North Little Rock, an electric bus will operate on route 15, which services McCain Mall. Little Rock residents will eventually see electric buses on route 3 at Baptist Medical Center, route 5 on West Markham Street, route 8 for Rodney Parham Road, route 15 in Rosedale, and routes 22 and 23 in Southwest Little Rock. Here is a list of routes operated by Rock Region.
“Like many business plans that have been implemented as we’ve learned more about climate change, we are relying on diversification,” Avery said. “In this case, [we will have] a mixed fleet for the future as we learn more about this evolving EV [electric vehicle] landscape.”
METRO’s other buses are powered by diesel. The transition away from diesel buses happened about one-and-a-half years ahead of schedule, according to Avery. Most of the funding for the new equipment came from a $4.9 million federal transportation grant.
“[The electric buses] align with our vision on how we take our city, how we take our region, to the next level as it relates to sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint,” Scott said.
Martha Hannigan is a reporter from Rock Metropolis for the Arkansas Situation. Her articles cover real estate, consumer safety, metropolitan development and local government in Arkansas.
