First of New MTD Electric Shuttles Arrives in Santa Barbara
Source: Santa Barbara MTD
Over twenty-five years after the launch of the nation’s first electric transit fleet, Santa Barbara MTD recently welcomed the first of fourteen new BYD battery electric vehicles.
MTD’s existing fleet of fourteen twenty-two foot E-Bus electric shuttles serve the Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle on State Street and Cabrillo Boulevard, the Crosstown Shuttle route connecting Santa Barbara’s Eastside and Westside neighborhoods, and the Seaside Shuttle loop in Carpinteria.
The new shuttles have modern battery-electric technology and a slightly larger passenger capacity, as they are 30 feet long. The shuttles are the same width as the original fleet. In addition to new battery technology, the BYD fleet will be equipped with GPS technology and will be trackable with MTD’s new SBMTD BusTracker smartphone app.
The fully-electric pilot vehicle made the 130 mile drive from BYD’s Lancaster facility to Santa Barbara MTD’s bus yard on one charge, and still had approximately 30 percent battery remaining.
The pilot shuttle will continue to undergo testing and drivers and mechanics will be trained on the new vehicle. The new shuttles will begin to be integrated with the old over the next several months.
8 Comments
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Oct 15, 2017 12:44 PMI did miss the old electric shuttles after they were retired. I hope the windows are removable on these new ones, so we can continue to enjoy the fresh air and quiet ride, like we did with the old ones.
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Oct 15, 2017 01:04 PMCool bus. I'd like to see them charge the same 50 cents for the Crosstown shuttle (currently a full-fare $1.75) as they do for the touristy Waterfront shuttle. Never understood that.
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Oct 15, 2017 01:29 PMPATRICK: Yes, that was my first thought: Will we have the same open-air experience? That is definitely part of the terrific charm of riding the Shuttle Buses.
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Oct 16, 2017 10:08 AMThese new buses look very nice. However, the size concerns me. Our neighborhood on the Westside worked to get the full size, usually empty, diesel city buses from using our narrow street as a turn-around. The smaller open air shuttles were a lot less invasive. Now here we are back to full size buses! I just don't see the ridership to warrant such a large vehicle lumbering through quiet residential neighborhoods.
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Oct 16, 2017 10:31 AMThat’s too bad - I like the idea of longer hauls and improved battery life - I just wish they had been able to keep the cute trolley feel of the existing shuttles. These just look like buses...I’m guessing my kids will not be begging to go on those as they have in the past...
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Oct 16, 2017 10:38 AMI wonder why they changed from the trolley-style shuttles to regular busses with larger capacity when most of the time they seem to be mostly empty of passengers?
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Oct 16, 2017 10:44 AMMaybe it's the only style of electric bus our City could afford? Maybe the only option? That said, I prefer the smaller size as well. Any answer on whether windows open or not? I'm too lazy to call The City.
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Oct 17, 2017 11:07 AMIf you look at the photo it's pretty clear that they don't open.