Range Anxiety: Electric Buses Still Aren't Ready to Scale

IndyGo's lofty goal to operate an entirely electric fleet by 2035 is at risk as issues with the system's existing fleet of electric buses are still having issues, according to an article by Kellie Hwang.

As proof of the issue, IndyGo recently approved the purchase of 13 diesel buses for deployment on the future Purple Line and cancelled an order for five electric buses manufacture by BYD.

The problem with electric buses boils down to range—the BYD buses aren't yet meeting contractually obligated standards in terms of range.

"BYD has yet to provide the permanent solution to ensure that the buses meet their contractual range," IndyGo said in an emailed statement. "To maintain our proposed service improvements for June, the Gillig buses were the best option. These buses will help with local route service but won’t be used for the Purple Line because they don’t have left side doors."

IndyGo is already running 31 electric buses on the Red Line, thought he buses are falling short of their promised 275 miles. "To offset the battery issues, BYD agreed to pay for boost chargers at either end of the Red Line," reports Hwang. "Temporary chargers have been implemented, as the permanent ones were delayed twice and are now scheduled to be installed in September."