A 10-year agreement was announced by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) officials with Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, a nonregulated commercial brand of Duke Energy, to install, maintain and operate electric bus charging infrastructure, the latest step in PSTA’s ongoing mission to transform the fleet to clean and green by 2050.
In December 2021, the PSTA Board of Directors approved a contract with Gillig LLC to purchase 60 all-electric buses and plug-in chargers over the next five years. PSTA currently operates six all-electric buses with 14 buses on order with delivery scheduled throughout 2023.
To accommodate the growing power needs to charge and maintain these buses, PSTA is coordinating with Duke Energy to install, operate and maintain the electrical infrastructure of 12 electric bus chargers.
“PSTA is committed to the promise of a zero-emissions fleet by 2050,” said Brad Miller, CEO, PSTA. “This exciting partnership with Duke Energy will provide us the power and infrastructure to move closer to that goal.”
Each electric bus is recharged one of three ways: overnight charging, regenerative braking and on-route charging stations. The battery range averages 200 miles or about 14 hours of operating time on a single charge. PSTA will save about $20,000 each year in diesel fuel costs with each electric bus.
“Pinellas County is pleased to support PSTA’s progress on a transition to a zero-emission fleet and this agreement is a step towards that,” said Pat Gerard, chair of PSTA’s Board of Directors. “Through this electric infrastructure investment, we are ensuring that Pinellas County residents benefit from cleaner air as we move toward a more sustainable, carbon-free energy system.”
Electric buses cost less to run than diesel, are easier to maintain and each electric bus reduces 135 tons of carbon emissions from the air per year by providing public transit services as an alternative to personal vehicle use.
“Duke Energy’s long-term investment in PSTA’s electric bus charging infrastructure is helping to put Pinellas County at the forefront of the transition to cleaner energy,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “We look forward to collaborating with PSTA and other customers to support the electrification of transportation vehicles and continue expanding EV charging across the state.”
Construction is set to begin in early 2023.
