ABC Companies, a provider of motorcoach, transit and specialty passenger transport equipment, together with commercial EV specialist Proterra, has announced the opening of a large electric motorcoach charging facility in Newark, California.
The charging facility, which was jointly developed by ABC, Proterra and local utility Pacific Gas & Electric, is equipped to charge up to 40 electric motorcoaches with 20 dual-cable EV charging dispensers, and can support up to 1.4 megawatts of EV charging power. The facility will support Van Hool electric motorcoaches, which are powered by Proterra’s battery technology.
ABC Companies’ Fleet Electrification Services offers EVs ranging from 8-passenger vans to 75-passenger 45-foot double deck motorcoaches, along with charging equipment.
“As the largest passenger motorcoach dealer in North America, we are going beyond selling and supporting these vehicles, as we educate, demonstrate, and invest in zero-emissions commercial transportation,” said Roman Cornell, CEO of ABC Companies. “In under 2 years, over 20% of our motorcoach sales are now battery-electric vehicles. However, the rapid growth in our commercial EV sales requires a corresponding charging infrastructure capable of handling the size and power requirements of these vehicles.”
Proterra Energy provides fleet operators with a comprehensive set of EV charging solutions—a team of electrification experts strives to recommend the ideal fleet charging solution for each project, optimized for usability, physical footprint, power or cost, depending on each customer’s priorities.
PG&E’s EV Fleet program is designed to help medium- and heavy-duty fleet customers easily and cost-effectively install charging infrastructure via comprehensive construction support and financial incentives. To date, the EV Fleet program has contracted with more than 180 sites to support the electrification of over 3,700 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in PG&E’s service territory.
“This project aligns with our core focus of proactively preparing the grid for the future, increasing access to charging infrastructure, and supporting electric transportation adoption through rates, rebates, tools, and education,” said Lydia Krefta, PG&E’s Director for Clean Energy Transportation.