the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Camden NJ, NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett was joined by Congressman Donald Norcross along with local, county and state officials and other stakeholders today to introduce the agency’s first battery electric bus that will soon be entering revenue service. The major milestone is an historic moment for the nation’s largest statewide transit provider and sets the stage for the planned transition to a complete fleet of zero-emission buses by 2040 aligned with Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan. This also reinforces the Murphy Administration’s commitment to New Jersey’s environmental justice communities.
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“Evidenced by NJ TRANSIT’s introduction of its first battery electric bus, New Jersey continues to serve as a trailblazer in transportation innovation,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “It’s game-changing developments like these that testify to my Administration’s promotion of transportation alternatives that are not only more affordable and accessible, but more environmentally sustainable, especially for communities overburdened by pollution. Once and for all, these communities will share in the full financial and health benefits of our state’s transition to a clean energy economy.”
“Accessible and reliable public transportation is critical to our continued progress in Camden City and statewide,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “The unprecedented federal investments in New Jersey’s transition to clean energy – from charging infrastructure to zero-emission buses – is unlocking economic growth, improving the quality of our air, reducing congestion in our downtowns, and ensuring every South Jersey resident can get where they need to go.”
“By transitioning to a clean bus fleet, NJ TRANSIT will improve local air quality in our communities while reducing the emissions that fuel climate change,” said New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “My Department of Environmental Protection colleagues and I are grateful for the partnership of NJ TRANSIT and the state Department of Transportation in the critical work of reducing and responding to climate change and congratulate them on this important milestone. Together, we will meet this moment.”
“The future is now for NJ TRANSIT, and this bus is just the first step along our transition to a more sustainable transportation system,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “I am proud to be a part of this transformational moment in NJ TRANSIT’s history.”
“This historic achievement puts NJ TRANSIT on a path of sustainability,” said NJ TRANSIT Board Vice-Chair Cedrick T. Fulton. “This is particularly meaningful to me, having worked a majority of my career in bus operations, knowing that we are changing the trajectory of the bus network here in New Jersey.”
“I’m so pleased that the transition to zero-emission buses is beginning right here in South Jersey,” said NJ TRANSIT Board Member Sangeeta Doshi. “This is a reminder that clean air in our cities is a top priority as we continue to make strides in reducing transportation emissions in New Jersey.”
“To increase the efficiency of our fight against climate change, we must begin by incorporating environmentally friendly options into our daily lives, and today NJ TRANSIT has taken a major step forward in achieving this goal,” said New Jersey State Senator Nilsa I. Cruz-Perez. “As a state, we have established ambitious goals to significantly lower our carbon emissions and become a greener place to live. The new zero emissions electric bus offers commuters a healthier and more environmentally friendly way to get around efficiently. On behalf of all Camden residents, we are extremely grateful to host NJ TRANSIT’s first electric bus program.”
“This is yet another historic first for the City of Camden and NJ TRANSIT as we introduce the first battery electric bus into service at the Newton Avenue Bus Garage,” said Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen. “This is a huge milestone towards a zero-emission fleet and a sustainable transportation system. I commend Governor Phil Murphy, Congressman Donald Norcross, and the leadership of NJ TRANSIT for moving in the right direction. It is so important that we reduce emissions throughout New Jersey and in urban communities like Camden.”
“NJ TRANSIT could not be more proud to introduce the first electric bus in our agency’s history that will soon be picking customers up along Camden’s city streets,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “This is an especially important first step as residents in large urban cities such as Camden often disproportionately bear the effects of air pollution.”
The Camden project is a first of its kind initiative for NJ TRANSIT, which will test eight battery electric buses in real world conditions on specific NJ TRANSIT routes. This will provide invaluable data and information on the effects of weather, passenger volume, road conditions and other factors on electric bus performance, including travel distance available between recharging. The project will also review the infrastructure resources and work required to modernize NJ TRANSIT’s bus garages to accept new charging stations, and the significantly greater power feeds needed to energize them.
Following today’s announcement, the bus will be used for bus operator training as well as first responder training and will enter into passenger service in the coming weeks.
very nice virtue signaling.
coal powered bus
And since it’s in Camden it’s been stolen.
Last report it was being parted out over in Pyne Point.
Forget about all the polictical BS. This is a good thing. It makes much more sense to introduce electric busses than cars. Yes, they are still fossil fuel powered, but that will change over time as the liberals get their heads out of their butts and embrace nuclear power (or whatever is next). Right now the benefits are at least better air quality in urban areas (regardless of the color of the people), and a reduction in diesel consumption that should put downward pressure on the cost for everyone else.
I read somewhere that electric school busses get about 200mile range, which is probably fine for that use, but transit busses do more per day (charge) than that…so we’ll see how this goes.
Electric powered vehicles are a dead end.
Hydrogen cell technology is much better.
But as we’ve seen with Betamax, the better technology doesn’t always prevail.
What I really don’t understand is the fallacy of forcing the electric revolution on people. Just take all the money bring flushed down the toilet on current Green Energy mandates and use it to make electricity free…increase capacity, distribution…bury the wires, etc. Overnight switchover, you’d have to be an idiot to keep paying for fuel. Entrepreneurs would be falling over themselves to deliver better appliances, cars, etc to take advantage of the free power.