FSU aims to run one of nation's first all-electric bus fleets

Tamia Streeter
Contributing Writer
In 2019, Florida State will become one of the first universities in the nation to deploy an all-electric bus fleet.

A year ago, StarMetro and Florida State University introduced three zero-emission electric buses to the campus. This year, they signed a 10-year contract with StarMetro, Tallahassee's transit system for 15 more. This change is expected to be more convenient for the rider, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and create a quieter campus.

The university put out what is called an ITN, an invitation to StarMetro and other private companies to provide buses on campus and told them they would appreciate and give preference to bus technologies that were not diesel.

“At the time, we thought electric was out of our price range,” Director of Transportation Matthew Inman said  “But StarMetro came to us and said they could put a plan together for electric that would be financially feasible.”

After that, they were able to go forward and come up with numbers that worked. In fact, the fleet is expected to save around 10 million dollars in costs. The 15 new buses are planned to start operating in fall 2019, and in seven years, the environment and bus riders alike will reap the benefits of a completely electric bus fleet.

The buses are built by Proterra, a California based company that designs and manufacturers zero-emission electric buses. Each bus will be 35 feet with a mount on the roof of the bus that connects to the overhead charger at the fast-charging stations.

StarMetro and Proterra are working together to form the most efficient schedule for the use of the charging stations. There will be two charging stations on campus: one by Doak Campbell Stadium and another on Stadium Drive near the college of medicine.

This process will replace the use of diesel gas engines, reduce the emission of fossil fuels in FSU's area and, therefore, clean up the environment.

Florida State’s Transportation and Parking Services Department hopes the buses being cleaner, newer and environmentally friendly will encourage students to take the bus rather than drive to campus.

“The buses will charge every third or fourth time around, and can charge from up to 10 minutes and get around 15 to 20 miles out of it,” Inman said. “The hope is that the driver could use that opportunity for a break instead of taking one some other time and slowing it down.”

With more buses added to the fleet, riders will have a better experience and will not have to wait as long.

“I’m pretty confident this will put more buses on our route, which will help students because routes like Heritage and Gold take up to 20 to 30 minutes in between a bus coming to your stop,” frequent rider and Student Senate Liaison Joshua Weber said.

Although some routes are bound to be busy, automatic passenger counters will create a simpler experience.  

“People will be able to look at the TransLoc Rider app and see how full the bus is, so you know whether there is a seat for you when that bus is coming, and you can make the decision of what to do from there,” Inman said.

There are also benefits for disabled riders since every bus will include a wheelchair ramp, complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The buses will also be a quieter experience for those who may be sensitive to noise.

The university and StarMetro are working together to make campus a cleaner, quieter place. Buses will be added to the fleet in the fall putting Florida State one step closer to its goal of being the first university in the country with a completely electric bus fleet.