Officials Roll Out Battery-Powered Buses
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Santa Monica officials clambered aboard the city’s new electric buses Monday morning as the first three battery-operated public transportation vehicles were rolled out during a beach boardwalk parade.
The 26-foot-long shuttles hummed quietly as city officials took a spin in the new vehicles, which can operate for 10 hours before needing to be recharged. Wrapped in colorful murals depicting local scenery, the Tide shuttles join a fleet of traditionally powered buses that run daily between Third Street Promenade and Main Street.
“We want to be on the forefront of providing pollution-free vehicles,” said John Catoe, the city’s transportation director. “This brings together three aspects of our city: mobility, clean transportation and moving art.”
The new electric vehicles cost $226,000 each and were funded by the city’s Proposition A transportation money, a South Coast Air Quality Management District grant, and support from Edison EV and local hotels. Santa Monica officials said they would like 75% of the city’s fleet to be alternative fuel vehicles by 2000.
“These electric buses are more benign in terms of pollution,” said Mayor Pam O’Connor.
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