AVTA Celebrates Major Milestone on Road to 100% Electric Transit Service

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) has announced the delivery of its first 60-foot articulated electric bus made by BYD; as well as the completion of the first ever WAVE inductive chargers in Southern California. These represent major milestones achieved by the AVTA toward its goal of “100 percent Green by 2018” — opening an exciting new chapter of innovative, world-class transit service for the region.

The accomplishments are the result of visionary leadership from local and regional community leaders. The AVTA electric bus conversion project began with a $1.9 million dollar grant from Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, which provided the project with a critical kick-start.

Backed by its Board of Directors, AVTA then adopted a bold vision of converting the AVTA’s entire existing bus fleet to 100% battery electric vehicles by 2018. The AVTA executive team and staff have worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life.

The partnership of BYD Motors and Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification (WAVE) charging systems has also been key to achieving these milestones. BYD Motors has brought both world-class transit buses, as well as new investment, into the region’s economy. Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification (WAVE) has developed wireless vehicle charging solutions embedded underground with no unsightly wires or overhead machinery, allowing AVTA to achieve an innovative and aesthetically pleasing model of transit service.

AVTA Board Chairman Marvin Crist shared, “Today represents a special day for the AVTA. After years of vision and hard work, it ushers in a new era of high quality transit service that will serve our community well -- as AVTA becomes a model for other communities to follow.”

AVTA Executive Director Len Engel noted, “Today would not have been possible without teamwork, both within AVTA and also with our partners at BYD Motors and WAVE who have worked so hard to pursue the dream of a zero emission transit fleet. Today is yet one more step towards the achievement of this vision.”

BYD Motors President Stella Li stated, “It has been such a pleasure partnering with the leadership of the AVTA and indeed community leaders from across the region. AVTA’s new BYD 60-foot articulated bus is the first generation of the most advanced electric bus on the market. We celebrate this exciting day for the community, and we look forward to helping the AVTA ultimately meet its 100 percent zero emission transit fleet goal.”

WAVE’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Masquelier, stated, “WAVE is honored to have been chosen as the sole provider of our revolutionary 250kW wireless chargers that contribute to the AVTA’s remarkable achievement. The AVTA and entire community should be proud of setting a high bar both regionally and nationally that others will look to as the zero-emissions  transit model of the near future. We look forward to continuing this exciting partnership with the AVTA and to helping provide a blueprint for other communities to follow.”

Chairman Crist concluded, “As both AVTA Chair and Vice Mayor of the city of Lancaster, I am doubly proud — as AVTA’s goal of ‘100 percent Green by 2018’ dovetails perfectly with the city of Lancaster’s twin goals of becoming a Zero-Net Energy city as well as the Alternative Energy Capital of the World. Today, our two major steps at AVTA are great strides toward the city’s energy goals.”

AVTA serves a population of more than 450,000 residents in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, as well as the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County. Its total service area covers 1,200 square miles and it is bounded by the Kern County line to the north, the San Bernardino County line to the east, the Angeles National Forest to the south and Interstate 5 to the west.