This National Drive Electric Week, Ameren Missouri and Metro Transit are celebrating a significant sustainability milestone for MetroBus as its battery-electric bus fleet has traveled 1.5 million miles since debuting its first electric buses in 2021. Metro Transit owns 24 battery-electric buses that operate across its most popular lines in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County.
“Through our partnership with Ameren Missouri, we were able to turn an exciting idea into one of the largest electric bus deployments in the country in 2021. Since then, our electric bus fleet continues to grow,” said Charles Stewart, Chief Operating Officer of Metro Transit. “With new federal funding, we continue to make important investments in clean energy, including new charging infrastructure and new battery-electric buses that will benefit our communities both now and into the future.”
Reducing carbon emissions
Metro Transit estimates an overall cost savings to taxpayers of up to $525,000 over the life of each bus in fuel and maintenance, as well as environmental benefits including a reduction of up to 160 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year when compared to a diesel bus.
"Through our Smart Energy Plan, we made significant upgrades to serve the growing electric needs of Metro Transit and the surrounding communities," said Mark Birk, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri. "This great partnership is rooted in our shared commitment to reducing carbon emissions by adopting new technologies and transitioning to cleaner sources of energy."
Self-healing equipment
Ameren is hosting a series of free virtual and in-person electric vehicle (EV) events
The electric buses operate out of the Brentwood MetroBus facility, which is powered by a nearby Ameren Missouri substation. The substation also features smart technology, including automated sensors, switches and self-healing equipment to more rapidly detect and isolate damage in order to restore power quicker.
National Drive Electric Week, Sept. 27 through Oct. 6, is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of electric cars, trucks, motorcycles and more.
Ameren is hosting a series of free virtual and in-person electric vehicle (EV) events, including a webinar and multiple ride-and-drive opportunities. Online registration is highly recommended.