The Coast Is Clear In Santa Monica.

Sightseeing on the Boulevard. Surfing beside the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. These iconic Southern California experiences are now joined by something equally radical: riding an innovative, battery-electric bus built by GILLIG with a cutting-edge electric propulsion system developed by Cummins. This Cummins-powered zero-emissions Big Blue Bus is the very first GILLIG battery-electric bus to be delivered to a transit operator.

Equipped with six onboard batteries, the bus is powered by 100-percent renewable energy and can be fully charged in under 3 hours with a paired ChargePoint Express 250 installation. The bus uses a regenerative braking system that helps it reach a travel range of up to 150-miles on a single charge. In addition, the bus offers reduced noise pollution for residents and businesses and a quieter, more relaxing ride for customers.

The new battery-electric bus utilizes the GILLIG 40-foot Low-Floor platform and is well-suited to seamlessly integrate into Santa Monica’s existing fleet of 124 GILLIG buses powered by Cummins Natural Gas engines, as there are many interchangeable bus parts. The addition of the first battery-electric vehicle brings Big Blue Bus one step closer to their goal of having a full zero-emissions fleet by 2030.

Tags: ChargePoint Express 250, renewable energy, Santa Monica Pier