Broome County Receives Its First Electric Buses

The BC Transit bus fleet is being expanded with the addition of six new battery electric vehicles.

Several of the next-generation buses have arrived in Broome County in recent days. The Gillig buses were driven thousands of miles from the company's California factory.

Electric buses at the BC Transit complex in Vestal. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The cost of each electric bus and its associated charger is about $1.3 million. That compares to $600,000 for a conventional diesel bus and $800,000 for a third-generation hybrid bus.

County officials didn't make available anyone to discuss the new buses. But in a statement released by the county, public transportation commissioner Greg Kilmer said the vehicles "must undergo the necessary preparations and post-delivery inspections to become road ready."

Broome County's new Gillig battery electric buses were manufactured in California. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Kilmer last January told WNBF News that he expected the first electric buses would be delivered in August.

State and federal funding is being used to help cover some of the cost of the buses and the needed charging equipment.

Six Heliox 180 kilowatt chargers have been installed at the BC Transit complex in Vestal.

Six Heliox Flex chargers have been installed next to the Vestal BC Transit fleet garage. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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