Mineta San Jose International Airport unveiled its fleet of 10 zero-emission buses Friday to transport passengers between terminals, parking lots and rental car centers.
The fleet is the first of its kind in the state and the largest electric-powered system at any airport in the country, San Jose officials said. The buses can each carry 40 passengers and were built and designed by Burlingame-based Proterra.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said the buses will reduce fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions, while taking steps toward electric engine power for all public transportation in the city.
"Today, we deployed the largest fleet of electric buses at any airport in the country, as we continue to establish ourselves as a leader in combating climate change," Liccardo said in a statement.
The buses were partially funded by a $5 million zero-emissions grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and will replace a 10-year-old natural gas fleet at the airport. The aim of buying the new buses is to reduce ozone emissions by 1.1 tons over 10 years. The buses will be serviced by San Jose's new energy provider, San Jose Clean Energy.
"We are so proud to see these beautiful California-made electric buses deployed here at San Jose Airport, running on clean electricity which is generated locally," Proterra CEO Ryan Popple said in a statement.
