Four new all electric community shuttle buses, funded by Google in a two year pilot project, are on the road in Mountain View, California. Known as the Mountain View Community Shuttles, the white and blue buses use modular, plug and play electric powertrain technology from Motiv Power Systems. The Motiv electric Powertrain Control System (ePCS) electrifies truck or bus chassis as a ship-through option, using a variety of commercially-available battery packs and motors.
The Mountain View Community Shuttle service is aimed at moving residents and visitors through the City between neighborhoods, shopping centers, medical complexes, City facilities and recreation areas. “We’re happy to be working with Motiv and the City of Mountain View on the new electric community shuttles. We hope the shuttle system makes getting around a little easier–and greener–for all of our neighbors,” said Meghan Casserly, Google spokesperson.
The four electric shuttles are free to the public and are equipped with seating for 16 passengers, a wheelchair lift, space for two wheelchairs, WiFi connectivity and bicycle racks on the outside of the vehicle. They feature a Ford E450 chassis, the MotivePCS and an Ameritrans 285 shuttle bus body. The system, battery packs, and a motor were installed to replace the engine and transmission of a new incomplete chassis in a ship-through modification, a process similar to a CNG ship-through modification.
While the costs of the two year pilot program are supported by Google, the electrification of the shuttles was made possible through funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC). CEC grants allowed the bus and service dealer, ABC Companies to purchase the batteries, as well as the electric powertrains, and provide Google zero emission shuttles for the same cost as their fossil fuel counterparts.
Source: Motiv Power Systems
