Cartoon Tuesday: Jay Leno Drives Foothill Transit’s Electric Bus


Not quite a cartoon, but today we feature a comedian. Watch the above 2012 video from Jay Leno’s Garage where Leno learns the ins and outs of the latest in electric bus technology, specifically Foothill Transit’s electric buses manufactured by Proterra which recently introduced an upgraded model. The bus features a steel-free balsa wood and fiberglass frame.

Electric bus technology has been a hot topic lately in Los Angeles.

Foothill Transit already has several electric buses up and running. That agency has committed to a fully-electric bus fleet by 2030.

The bus technology discussion dominated the October 27 Metro board of directors meeting, with dozens of public commenters. Environmentalists were critical of Metro’s tepid approach to the air and energy benefits of full electrification. Industry representatives from electric vehicle and natural gas industries predictably touted their technological preferences. Several Metro boardmembers who are not typically highly environmentally-minded questioned the life-cycle benefits of electrification. Ultimately, the Metro board decided to more-or-less double down on not-quite-zero-emission compressed natural gas (CNG) buses through 2025. Metro is dipping its toe into the electric bus arena by moving to study full electrification on just the Metro Orange and Silver Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Lines. Today, Metro announced a $4.3 million federal grant that will go toward Orange Line electrification.

Watch and enjoy.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

LongBeachize: BYD Electric Bus Procurement Further Delayed

By Brian Addison |
The BYD Motors drama is quickly becoming the novela of the transit community in Southern California, as the bus manufacturer—via Long Beach Transit (LBT)’s Rolando Cruz—is expected to delay the delivery of LBT’s electric bus fleet. The troubled bus manufacturer, whose North American offices in Los Angeles are operated by China-based BYD, controversially scored the contract with LBT this […]

Long Beach: Uh-Oh, (More) Flaws Discovered in BYD Electric Buses

By Brian Addison |
Looks like the electric buses coming from China-based company Build Your Dreams (BYD)—the ones procured by both Long Beach Transit (LBT) and Los Angeles Metro—are becoming an even larger nightmare. First, we had the beyond-sketchy RFP process earlier this year where LBT went with BYD over Altoona-tested-and-ready-to-go South Carolina electric bus manufacturer Proterra. This was […]

Long Beach Transit, Please Go (More) Electric

By Brian Addison |
Long Beach Transit (LBT) is considering two common, albeit game-changing RFPs (depending on their decisions): to purchase new buses that fit within the so-called alternative fuel sectors–that is, hybrid, CNG, or electric. Before I even make another statement, there are two that shouldn’t even be on that list–and it isn’t electric. As dollar signs float […]