Charlotte touts features for handicapped riders on new electric and hybrid buses
Riders may notice some differences when they board Charlotte Area Transit System buses.
CATS has purchased 16 battery electric buses and 15 hybrid buses with a $30 million Federal Transit Administration grant and a match of $27 million in money from the Charlotte transit agency. They’ll replace 31 diesel buses and include new amenities for people with special needs. Bus drivers also will be trained as part of the big bus purchase in an initiative called eSERVE Academy. The announcement was made Wednesday during a press conference at the CATS South Tryon Bus Facility.
There are 18 battery-powered buses and around 64 hybrid buses compared to the agency’s 240 diesel buses.
This is the largest grant that CATS has ever received and will give Charlotte the ability to “modernize its bus fleet,” said interim CEO Brent Cagle.
“That really provides amenities to our passengers, improves their experience, improves their safety and just really creates a transit system that the community deserves,” Cagle says.
New features on electric and hybrid buses
The new battery-powered and the hybrid buses are debuting a new restraint system for people who use a wheelchair. It will mean passengers with wheelchairs won’t need as much help getting on and off, officials said. The system will allow someone in a wheelchair the ability to get into the device and secure themselves.
Other new features include a split-screen monitor anchored to the electronics cabinet that displays marketing and communications information such as rider alerts, detours and public service announcements. The monitor also will display live streaming of the forward facing bus camera and a ‘’route ladder’’ showing each bus stop along the route.
CATS will also try out a system called C3-SPACE. Unlike the restraint system being put in place for in electric and hybrid buses, C3-SPACE is a pod that will provide live route maps and cameras for its handicapped riders.
There will be 15 electric charging stations bus facilities for both the electric and hybrid buses. The electric vehicles offer zero emission while the hybrid has 50% less than a normal bus, according to CATS in an email.
“I’m so excited about what the future can be for CATS. We’ve got cleaner buses, and we have both the clean buses inside and outside now and that’s what’s gonna make a difference for us,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said.
eSERVE Academy
With the new buses, CATS will also launch a training program call Electric Sustainable Environmentally Reliable Vehicle Education (eSERVE) Academy.
The program will have training for maintenance technicians, a commercial driver’s license program (CDL) and bus or rail operations as well as maintenance apprenticeship. The bus or rail operations program runs from three to six months. The apprenticeship runs for one year.
“Our biggest asset, our most important asset is our people and being able to invest in our people is great. Having better equipment for them is important, but also investing in the community to create new jobs and jobs of the future. It’s a win-win for everyone,” Cagle said.
The program will include:
▪ Career coaching
▪ Customized on-the-job skills training
▪ Apprenticeship opportunities
▪ Vocational training
▪ Assessments to track progress
This story was originally published August 3, 2023 at 3:31 PM.
