CATS to purchase three additional electric buses

Baton Rouge, LA - The Capital Area Transit System (CATS) Board of Commissioners voted on Tuesday to authorize the purchase of three electric buses. These buses will bring the total of electric buses in the agency’s fleet to six.

“We are happy to continue the growth of our alternative fuel vehicles,” said CATS CEO Bill Deville. “These buses are manufactured in California and ease the footprint of our traditional diesel buses,” Deville continued.

The BYD electric buses are all zero emission and are powered by iron-phosphate liquid cooled batteries. They are 35’ foot buses with 32-passenger seating capacity and 28-passenger standing capacity. The top speed is 62 MPH.

CATS, in conjunction with the City-Parish and Build Baton Rouge, was recently awarded a competitive BUILD grant to fund the state’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor. The BRT route will be served with electric buses when implemented.

CATS is the public transportation provider for the Cities of Baton Rouge and Baker and provides more than 200,000 passenger trips each month. The agency provides service seven days a week, 363 days a year. More information may be found at www.brcats.com