Anaheim’s plan to operate California’s first all-electric bus fleet are being fueled with a $5 million grant from the California Energy Commission.
The grant—provided by the California Energy Commission—will be used by the Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN) to acquire charging stations, batteries, and other solar infrastructure. It will also finance the purchase of a large solar panel canopy that will provide 25 percent of the total excepted energy consumption.
“This investment will assist ATN in delivering an electric bus fleet that will not only benefit passengers but will also enhance the air quality of the entire region,” Diana Kotler, executive director of ATN, said in a Feb. 24 press release. “With a goal of becoming California’s first all-electric bus fleet by 2025, we are excited to be creating sustainable public transportation options to meet the transit demands of local residents, employees and visitors.”
This isn’t the first time California Energy Commission has supported the initiative.
As part of its Electrify Anaheim program, the ATN in 2018 was awarded $28.6 million in grant funds from the agency.
The funds were earmarked for the purchase of 40 all-electric zero emission buses to serve ATN’s ridership and replace its aging liquified natural has buses. It will fund the acquisition of 10 small-capacity all-electric vehicles as well, the ATN said.
ATN entered into a 20-year partnership with AMPLY Power to manage the project’s charging operations from system design, installation, equipment purchases, and maintenance.
ATN operates on 19 different routes in Anaheim with 81 clean fuel buses and 10 zero-emission vehicles, serving about 9.5 million riders every year.
