Newark, California, to Seattle, Washington, and back in an electric coach just completed a voyage of 1,700 miles (2,743 kilometres). MTRWestern, the coach operator, and ABC Companies, the US importer of Van Hool coaches, coordinated the trip as a demonstration of battery-electric transportation.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this journey is the reliance on free public fast chargers. Between charging breaks, the bus covered an average distance of 280 miles (450 kilometres) (482 km).
In 2017, a Proterra bus powered by a Proterra battery pack travelled 1,101 miles (1,772 kilometres) on a single charge in a Van Hool CX45E. Later that year, Van Hool decided to use Proterra as its battery source..
When it comes to zero-emission green travel, “we are happy to be among the first operators in the United States,” said Todd Paulson, MTRWestern’s director of operations. “As we begin testing EV integration in our fleet, we are grateful for the input of our groups who were eager to experience EV travel first-hand. Our drivers were particularly happy with the smooth coach handling and power, especially during elevation rises, which made for a very calm journey for both passengers and crew members alike.”
