The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has purchased five fully electric-powered buses from Proterra to replace diesel-powered parking shuttles at Washington Dulles International Airport.
This purchase is funded by a grant from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to advance the airport’s goal of operating a more sustainable fleet of low or zero-emission ground transportation vehicles.
Christopher Paolino, vice president for Strategy and Operational Performance at the Airports Authority, said:Sustainability is a top priority for the Airports Authority, and this purchase is an important component of our overarching sustainability plan. It marks a major milestone in our green-vehicle effort, a transition we’ve already begun with our smaller vehicles.
The purchase includes five Proterra ZX5+ buses, as well as three Proterra 150-kilowatt charging stations, which can recharge each bus in under four hours.
The buses feature a 450 kilowatt-hour battery that will deliver between 154 and 216 miles of service per charge, enabling drivers to complete their full shift on a single charge.
The vehicles will be designed with the Airports Authority’s 29-seat layout, which is customised for airport service and includes a spacious luggage rack for passenger convenience. Foldable seats will also enable two wheelchair positions that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The electric buses are scheduled for delivery in early 2023 and will replace five older diesel buses currently used throughout Dulles International Airport. This initiative is part of the airport’s wider goal to replace its fleet with greener alternatives.
