UQM Technologies, Inc. and Proterra LLC have joined forces to develop the EcoRide BE35 electric bus, a zero emission electric bus aimed at public transportation. The BE35 fully charges in under 10 minutes, captures up to 90 percent of the braking energy, and its electronic components are optimized for ultimate energy efficiency.

The bus is making its debut in California, touring the major metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Jose: cities eager to see that latest in green transit options. For bus routes that need an extended range, the bus platform can support an auxiliary power unit

The BE35 can hold up to 37 passengers, somewhat smaller than San Francisco’s Municipal Bus System (Muni) vehicles, but offers many other benefits. While Muni busses run on electricity (tethered to overhead lines) and similarly do not emit greenhouse gases, being able to quickly recharge the bus and recapture braking energy  reduces the amount of electricity continually being drawn from the grid.

Switching to a BE35 fleet could help Muni decrease its climate change contributions, and would also eliminate those annoying delays when the poles that tap into the overhead lines become dislodged.