IndyGo Begins Building Largest Electric Bus Fleet in the Country

In 2013, IndyGo received a $10 million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to purchase 21 electric buses, which will give us the largest fleet in the country.

Earlier this year, we received our first electric buses from Complete Coach Works. The buses are completely refurbished Gilligs, each with a set of 12 Lithium-Ion, also known as Lithium Cobalt batteries, a three-phase 480 watt motor and the new Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS). The buses were rebuilt with lightweight flooring, lightweight seats, low resistance tires and energy-efficient heating and cooling all to ensure a range of 130 miles on a single battery charge. They’re smoother to drive, quieter (no loud diesel engine sound) and far more efficient than any other bus in our fleet.

Since then, our operations team has been busy with the new bus intake process of installing fare boxes, applying IndyGo branding, ensuring registration and licensing and training our drivers. We’ve also been working on installing solar panels in our garage, thanks to a $3 million State of Good Repair Grant, which will be used to charge the electric buses.

Combined, these two grants are paving the way for a much more efficient IndyGo and improved air quality for the residents of Indianapolis. If you’d like to see an electric bus up close, one will be at the Earth Day Indiana festival on April 25 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at White River State Park. Several of the buses are scheduled to begin serving passengers later this year.