Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) said this week it is adding five electric buses to its vehicle fleet as part of the airport’s sustainability commitment to pursue fiscally responsible practices that minimize environmental impacts.
CLT said these first five buses are part of a longer-term plan to replace its entire fleet of 70 diesel-powered buses with 50 electric buses over the next decade.
“We are excited to begin the next chapter of sustainability for the airport,” said Haley Gentry, CLT’s acting aviation director. “These buses are cleaner, more efficient to operate and provide a long-term operational cost savings. It’s a big step for the airport, but a step in the right direction.”
The five electric buses, built by Proterra, will save an estimated $90,000 in diesel costs every year and have an annual impact equal to removing 2,900 cars from city streets.
The airport move toward electric buses also supports the City of Charlotte’s Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP), which strives to have city fleet and facilities fueled by 100 percent zero-carbon sources by 2030.
