DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Decatur Public Transit System (DPTS) will be launching 5 new electric hybrid buses. The first two will hit the road Friday. The remaining three in late February.
Drivers were able to get a look at one of the buses Thursday morning at the Downtown Transit Center and were provided training.
The buses do not require charging and can operate fully electric for up to 200 miles a day. When not running electric the Gillig E-gen Flex model buses operate on B20 Biodiesel. DPTS says it has found B20 produces lower emissions, better gas milage, and is cheaper.
DPTS has geofenced areas for the buses to operate fully electric, typically in higher-populated areas. Once the bus crosses into the geofence area, it automatically converts to 100 percent electric and then back to hybrid when it leaves the area.
The buses were fully funded by federal and state transportation grants. The total cost is $4.6 million.
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