Electric bus manufacturer Proterra has introduced the DuoPower drivetrain for its award-winning Catalyst battery-electric vehicles at the APTA public transportation show taking place in Atlanta.
With the DuoPower drivetrain, the Catalyst bus will now have nearly twice the horsepower and acceleration, and will be five times more efficient than a standard diesel bus. In addition, the performance of the DuoPower drivetrain represents a 20 percent increase in efficiency over Proterra’s standard ProDrive system.
For the Catalyst E2 max, the DuoPower drivetrain enables a nominal range of 426 miles on a single charge, which far exceeds the average distance of North American transit routes. Proterra recently tested the DuoPower drivetrain at the Navistar Proving Grounds in Indiana, achieving a world record range for an electric vehicle, where the 40-foot Catalyst E2 max traveled 1,101.2 miles on a single charge.
Having already delivered the industry’s most energy-dense batteries, Proterra is now setting new performance standards for efficiency and power. Designed for durability, Proterra’s DuoPower drivetrain features two electric motors that deliver 510 horsepower, accelerating a Catalyst bus from 0-20 mph in 4.5 seconds, while also achieving an industry-leading 26.1 MPGe. In addition, it can propel a bus up a 26 percent grade, which is more than twice the performance of the average 35- or 40-foot diesel bus, and 72 percent better than competing electric transit vehicles, making it an ideal option for transit agencies with steep hills.
In a related news, Van Hool, the Belgian independent manufacturer of buses, has selected Proterra to provide its highly efficient battery platform for Van Hool’s first all-electric motor coach.
Van Hool’s CX Series electric vehicle will utilize the same E2 battery technology from Proterra that recently broke the world record for range achieving 1,101.2 miles on a single charge. CX Series operators will be able to test drive the all-electric CX45E coach at the Van Hool factory in late 2018, with deliveries beginning in 2019. The shorter CX35E coach model will be introduced shortly thereafter.
One of Europe’s early leaders in mass transportation solutions, Van Hool, in partnership with its exclusive U.S. distributor ABC Bus Companies Inc., has become one of the most popular motor coach providers in the United States, with more than 10,000 coaches and buses on the road today, serving a number of large Silicon Valley corporate-sponsored commuter shuttles and other customers. Spurred by corporate customer demand for all-electric vehicle options, Van Hool selected Proterra for its demonstrated leadership within the heavy-duty electric vehicle industry and market-leading battery expertise.
The Van Hool corporate coach is designed for long-range, intercity travel with an emphasis on delivering a world-class customer experience in quality and comfort. The new CX45E and CX35E models will be co-branded with Proterra and will utilize Van Hool’s proven CX platform. ABC Bus Companies has helped Van Hool for the last three decades to establish distribution, sales, parts and service networks, and will continue to forge new market adoption with the CX Series.
Featuring Proterra’s advanced electric vehicle technology, the Van Hool CX45E is designed to be the most efficient and highest performing long-range eCoach offered in the U.S. market. The all-electric coach is expected to eliminate hundreds of thousands of pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year and save customers tens of thousands of dollars on fuel and maintenance costs. Given fewer moving parts and zero-tailpipe emissions, the electric coach will also provide passengers with a more comfortable, cleaner and quieter experience.
