Electric Bus Project

Over the past twelve years, Link Transit has been on the cutting edge of operating battery electric transit buses. Now, a fully functional and operational fleet of full-sized, extended-range, fast-charged transit buses is a reality.

Benefits

This innovative project greatly reduces vehicle emissions, contributing to a cleaner and quieter environment, while remaining economically viable and sustainable.

The partners involved in making this project a reality have reaped benefits far beyond financial gain. They have pushed forward technology that will allow more efficient and faster implementation of battery electric buses at other transit systems across the nation.

This is the first of many steps to build a real, sustainable, clean energy economy for America.

Project History Overview

Originally begun in 2009 as a project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the TIGGER Program, Link Transit purchased five battery electric replica trolleys and two fast-chargers from E-Bus, located in Downey, CA.

Following numerous delays, these buses were delivered  beginning in 2010 and were fully implemented into service by 2014. Soon thereafter the vehicles and chargers began to experience significant problems with the batteries and charging system. The chargers were removed from use in early 2017 and the vehicles ceased operation later that year.

In 2016, Link Transit ordered five 35-foot BYD K9S battery electric coaches, which were delivered in 2017. These buses were charged overnight using plug-in chargers. Operationally, these buses proved to be somewhat problematic, with a high rate of failure. These buses were returned to the manufacturer and replaced with five newer buses in early 2018.

In early 2018, Momentum Dynamics installed a 200-kW inductive charging system at Link’s primary transit center, with successful charging of a bus first done on March 8, 2018. This technology allows buses to be charged throughout the day at the end of their route, so there is no need to pull a bus from service to charge the batteries.

In late 2020, Momentum Dynamics began installing an additional three inductive charging systems, these have the capacity to charge up to 300 kW. The final installation of these systems was completed in late June, and these are being used to charge Link’s fleet of 12 battery electric buses operating in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee.

As of December 1, 2023, Link has four inductive charging units in operation.

In May 2023, Link took delivery of eight additional 30′ BYD coaches, and three 35′ coaches, bringing the total number of electric vehicles in the fleet to 23.

View more information on the BYD electric buses and inductive charging system: Zero Emission Battery Bus FAQ