COUNTYWIDE : Electric Shuttle Bus Put in Use by OCTA

Although it’s not a true magic bus, county transportation officials said the electric shuttle that made its debut Monday may someday help make commuter vehicle pollution disappear.

By eliminating the noxious black belch of smoke that usually trails buses, Orange County Transportation Authority officials said, the 22-foot, 29-passenger, battery-powered Electric Shuttle Vehicle could soothe Southern California traffic congestion with minimal effect on the environment.

“Vehicles like this are still experimental, but they certainly have an application, particularly in light of our growing interest in the environment,” William Mahoney, a member of the OCTA Board of Directors, said during the unveiling in Santa Ana. “I think that in the not-too-distant future battery-powered vehicles are one of the things we’re going to be seeing.”

Officials said the bus, which costs between $120,000 and $160,000, runs “97% cleaner” than its diesel-powered counterpart and requires less maintenance because it has fewer moving parts.

As a subject study, the bus will be used on a regular route service for the next six months. The bus, which can travel 70 miles on one charge and has a peak speed of 40 m.p.h., will be based at the commuter rail station in Fullerton, where it will ferry commuters to high-use business areas.

While the bus’s 3,900-pound, lead-acid battery takes eight hours to charge, OCTA maintenance manager Ed Clifford said it requires little upkeep beyond occasional water. Officials said the bus would run during peak hours in the morning and afternoon, providing a break for midday charges. Fares will remain the same.

The bus was built by the Downey-based Specialty Vehicle Manufacturing Corp. and funded by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, with money generated by state vehicle registration fees. Southern California Edison is also a partner in the vehicle’s experimental use.

The electric bus fits into OCTA’s effort to seek out vehicles that use alternative fuels. More than a fourth of the OCTA bus fleet, including all of the smaller para-transit vehicles for disabled and elderly passengers, run on either clean-burning propane, methanol or compressed natural gas.

Another experimental electric-powered shuttle has been operating for several weeks at John Wayne Airport.