IndyGo Now Has One Of Nation's Largest Electric Transit Fleets

INDIANAPOLIS  -- In December IndyGo received the final shipment of its 21 fully electric buses and flipped the switch on a 1 Megawatt solar array, making it a transit leader in alternative energy.

President and CEO, Mike Terry says IndyGo has been able to leverage federal grants for capital projects, like the solar panels and the electric buses, to make a difference on the organization's bottom line while improving its environmental footprint.

"We feel it's important to push the envelope and utilize newer technologies to make our operation as efficient as possible," Terry said.

IndyGo has become one of the largest electric transit fleets in the country with 21 fully electric buses. The Complete Coach Works Zero Emission Propulsion Systems were built on 2000 and 2001 model year diesel buses and repowered with lithium-ion batteries that reach up to 130 mile range on a single charge. The rehabbed buses use lightweight flooring, low resistance tires, and energy-efficient heating and cooling to maximize performance of the batteries.

The 1 Megawatt solar array sits on the roof of IndyGo's 8 acre operations and administrative facility on West Washington Street. It is the second largest solar array installed by an American transit operator. IndyGo says the solar panels produce enough power to offset the charging of 13 electric buses.

IndyGo is also pursuinig what could be the nation's first battery-electric bus rapid transit project -- the 35-mile Red Line. The line would be the first of its kind stateside and would be the region's first rapid transit project. IndyGo says it is completing its final engineering plans for Phase 1 of the Red Line and has submitted a Federal Small Starts grant application to fund construction of this first segment. Implementation of Phase 1 of the Red Line is dependent upon a competitive federal grant for approximately 80 percent of the total project cost. The Small Start grant awards will be announced in early 2016.