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Pinellas to Get Its First Electric Buses

Electric Bus | PSTA | Transportation

By ANNE LINDBERG, TB Reporter

The PSTA board voted 9 to 5 to buy the buses, which are scheduled to debut in St. Petersburg.

PINELLAS COUNTY – The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority Board voted 9-5 today (Feb. 22) to buy two electric buses – the first in the county.

The buses are set to make their debut in St. Petersburg. It’s unclear when that might happen. A charging station, which Pinellas County will pay for with some BP settlement funds, will have to be installed before the buses are ordered.

The buses will come from Los Angeles-based BYD Motors, which says it is the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer in both consumer electric and commercial/industrial vehicles. The 35-foot-long buses are battery-powered, zero-emission buses. Officials said the buses are expected to have a best range of 160 miles on a full charge. The batteries are warrantied for 12 months and BYD will provide operator training and maintenance. The cost for the two, including charging equipment, is not to exceed $2.2 million. And the contract allows the PSTA to order up to 20 additional electric buses, subject to funding availability.

The county has set aside $589,000 for the charging station, although officials want St. Petersburg to kick in some funds.

Electric Bus | PSTA | TransportationAfter months of debate, the PSTA agreed last June to support the purchase of two electric, battery-powered, zero-emission buses if Pinellas County used some of the BP settlement funds pay for charging station infrastructure. In December, county commissioners approved using some BP money for the station, which will be in downtown St. Petersburg. Pinellas County approves $589,000 in BP funds for charging station in downtown St. Petersburg.

Today, the PSTA board approved the purchase contract. Five members voted against – Pinellas County Commissioner Dave Eggers, Pinellas Park Council member Patti Johnson, Oldsmar Mayor Doug Bevis, Redington Beach Commissioner Mark Deighton, and citizen representative Brian Scott.

For information about the PSTA, go to psta.net.

Photos of electric bus by Anne Lindberg, TB Reporter

PSTA | Electric Buses | Transportation | Transit | TB Reporter

PSTA | Electric Buses | Transportation | Transit | TB Reporter