City and county governments, transportation agencies, as well as nonprofits, can order all-electric Class 3 to 5 passenger buses under the program. Vehicles eligible include the Ford Transit 350HD Passenger Van and Ford E-450 Shuttle Bus, both of which are offered by Lightning Systems.
“The contract provides CALACT member organizations in California the tools they need to confidently purchase competitively bid electric passenger buses to meet their sustainability goals and requirements under the state’s Innovative Clean Transportation (ICT) Regulation,” says Terry Scholl, Lightning Systems’ business development manager for Southern California.
“Electric buses have zero tailpipe emissions and, combined with California’s clean electrical grid, they help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change, as well as air quality pollutants that contribute to smog and its associated impact on public health,” Scholl says.
CALACT is a purchasing co-op for nearly 200 transit agencies in California, with Morongo Basin Transit Authority as the lead agency. CALACT performs extensive research and subjects manufacturers to onsite production and drivability audits to ensure quality and high-performing solutions for their agencies. CALACT provides oversight for the purchase of more than 800 buses annually and is the largest co-op of its kind in the United States.
Nonprofits or government agencies can use the new agreement to purchase electric buses once they join CALACT. All sales are made through one of several dealers that offer vehicles equipped with Lightning Systems’ electric powertrains.
Lightning Electric vehicles are built around bodies offered by Lightning Systems-authorized dealers on the contract, including A-Z Bus Sales, Creative Bus Sales and RO Bus Sales. Custom seating, ADA up-fitting and integration with the Lightning Vehicles on the contract are handled by Nor Cal Vans, MobilityWorks, Fenton Mobility Products, Sunset Vans and Diamond Coach.
“The Lightning Systems Electric Passenger Van, one of our most popular models, is the only Class 3 bus available on the contract,” says Julie Johnson, Lightning Systems’ enterprise business development manager. “Under the contract, we also offer an all-electric E-450 shuttle bus that has the highest passenger seat rating of any electric Class 4 bus on the market. Both ZEB models offer ADA-compliant seating options.”
All vehicles under the contract are eligible for special funding via the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Hybrid and Zero Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). Additional Lightning Systems portfolio vehicles also eligible for HVIP include the Ford F-550 passenger bus and a full suite of Class 3 to Class 7 cargo trucks. The voucher program can reduce the upfront cost of advanced zero emissions fleet vehicles by 40 to 70 percent.
