Wichita will receive $3.95 million in federal grant funding for the purchase of ten Vicinity Motor Corp Optimal S1LF electric vehicles and the installation of five 150kW in-depot charging stations.
This the grants is part of $1.66 billion in grants announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to be awarded to transit agencies, territories, and states to invest in 150 bus fleets and facilities.
These new low-floor vehicles will be used for demand-response service and replace existing fossil fuel vans beyond their service life. Furthering Wichita Transits’ efforts to convert to an entire battery-electric fleet, these vans are expected to reduce operating and maintenance expenses while reducing levels of CO2 that are emitted in the city overall. Delivery of these Buy America certified vehicles can be expected in 2023.
“Transitioning to a zero-emission fleet will provide cleaner air that benefits the Wichita population, and these battery-powered vans combined with two-hour recharging capability really moves the needle in cost-saving to transit,” said Mike Tann, Transit Director for Wichita Department of Transportation.
FTA’s Low or No Emission (Low-No) Grant Program makes funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease U.S.-built low- or no-emission vehicles, including related equipment or facilities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.5 billion over five years for the Low-No Program.
