Author: Michael Turner

InspireNOLA Charter Schools has deployed 42 battery-electric school buses to serve students in and around New Orleans, replacing an equal number of diesel buses and shifting daily operations to zero-emission transport, the organisation said. The electric buses are operated by Louisiana-based A&S Transportation in partnership with Highland Electric Fleets. They run across 58 routes, covering more than 3,400 miles per day, providing transport for thousands of students while maintaining existing service levels. See also: New Jersey Awards Nearly $32 Million for Electric School Buses and Public Charging Projects According to InspireNOLA and its partners, the transition is expected to reduce…

Zurich Transport Services (VBZ) plans to launch a tender this month for the procurement of up to 100 battery-electric buses, a move that marks a departure from relying on options in existing supply contracts with Swiss manufacturer Hess and Germany’s MAN, Swiss media have reported. VBZ is expected to invest up to 140 million Swiss francs ($150 million) in the electric bus purchase, according to the reports. In parallel, the public transport operator will allow manufacturers to submit voluntary bids for up to 100 trolleybuses, a programme estimated to be worth an additional 160 million Swiss francs. The tender is…

Commerce City, Colorado, has begun deploying an all-electric residential recycling and garbage collection fleet, marking a major step in reducing emissions from its municipal operations as cities across the United States turn to electric vehicles for heavy-duty urban services. City officials said this week that the new fleet is already operating on local streets, replacing diesel-powered refuse trucks with battery-electric models better suited to stop-and-go routes, heavy payloads and predictable daily driving distances. Waste collection is widely seen as a strong early use case for electrification, as most routes cover well under 100 miles per day and operate primarily at…

China’s Geely Holding Group is considering an eventual entry into the United States market, with an announcement on timing and brand strategy expected within the next two to three years, a senior company executive said, signaling the clearest indication yet of the group’s ambitions in the country. Ash Sutcliffe, Geely’s head of global communications, said the automaker is evaluating opportunities across major global markets, including the United States, as it showcases vehicles from its portfolio to American media. Geely owns a mix of international and Chinese brands, including Volvo, Polestar, Smart, Lotus, as well as its China-focused marques Zeekr and…

Mars has begun operating five battery-electric heavy-duty trucks in Germany as part of its effort to cut emissions from logistics operations, the company said, adding that more electric vehicles will be introduced in the coming months. The vehicles, Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 trucks, are operated through Mars’ German logistics partner Rigterink Logistikgruppe and run on what the company describes as central transport routes. The trucks serve customer distribution centres in south-west Germany as well as Mars’ own facilities, covering an estimated 350,000 kilometres annually. See also: Mars Expands Electric Truck Fleet with Mercedes eActros 600s in Partnership with Einride Mars said…

The County of Maui has placed its first battery-electric buses into regular passenger service, marking a milestone in the island’s efforts to modernise public transport and reduce emissions, local authorities said on Monday. The County of Maui Department of Transportation said four electric buses have begun operating on two core routes in the Maui Bus network, the Kahului Loop #5 and the Upcountry Islander #40. The vehicles represent the first use of battery-electric buses in daily transit service on Maui, with further routes expected to follow as operations expand. “These zero-emission buses represent a major milepost in the County of…