Pace purchases 20 Proterra ZX5 electric buses and EV fleet charging infrastructure

Pace Suburban Bus awarded a $26.5 million contract to Proterra to acquire 20 ZX5 Max electric transit buses, featuring more than 13 megawatt hours of battery storage energy, and two Proterra megawatt-scale fleet chargers. 

“As transit agencies across the country begin to purchase electric buses, we are excited to be able to get our first order for electric buses in the queue. This puts us ahead of our anticipated schedule and will allow us to get electric buses on the road even sooner,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda J. Metzger. 

Pace’s transition to a zero-emission fleet is a key initiative of their new strategic vision plan, Driving Innovation. Pace says it is committed to moving away from fossil fuels and to do its part to address the climate crisis in a fiscally responsible, taxpayer friendly way. 

“Proterra is delighted to be Pace’s partner to bring our industry-leading fleet electrification solutions to the Chicagoland area. With our purpose-built vehicle platform and best in class range, we are excited to help drive the region’s switch to zero-emission, electric transportation,” said John Walsh, Proterra’s Chief Commercial Officer. 

Designed and manufactured in the United States, Proterra’s electric transit buses are equipped with the company’s battery technology systems. The 40-foot ZX5 Max features 675 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy storage, the most onboard energy storage available in an electric transit bus on the road in North America today, according to Proterra.