All-Electric Buses

Full fleet out on the street!

As part of the upcoming bus rapid transit system (BRT), Metro has upgraded its fleet to more than one third all-electric vehicles, with the addition of 62 New Flyer articulated buses.

These buses are features on our new Rapid Route A, B, F and other select routes. 

Information Flyer

Funded by the Biden Infrastructure Law, the new vehicles provide increased room so that more people can comfortably ride. The buses can transport nearly 110 people, which is 50% more than the capacity on Metro's current local buses.

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Features

• Account-based tap card fare system - with the ability to board with credit cards coming next year
• Ability to board on both sides of bus with doors at front, middle and rear of vehicle.

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• Help reduce fuel use by roughly a quarter-million gallons of diesel fuel per year
• Zero emissions buses can avoid up to at least 135 metric tons of greenhouse gas annually.
• New lightweight electric traction drive system with up to 90% energy recovery, making them more energy efficient.
• Creates little to no noise when idling. In motion, they operate at a noise level that is measured below that of a normal conversation. 
• Improved convenience for those riding in wheelchairs due to a Q’Straint Quantum, an automatic rear-facing wheelchair securement system. 

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• Bike racks are located inside the rear of the bus to make it quicker and easier to board

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Background

Implementing all-electric vehicles is part of the City of Madison's MetroForward initiative which aims to improve air quality in the community and reduce the City's overall carbon footprint.

In 2016, Metro purchased its first three all-electric buses with the goal of making 50 percent of its fleet zero emission by 2035.