district ’ s drivers and maintenance techs on the nuances of the bus and its operation . “ It was really well-documented ,” Frates said . “ The engine on the Type A has been in service with commercial trucks for more than five years , so it is a proven platform . The trainer showed us everything we need to watch out for , and how to maintain the bus .” Frates added that the batteries are very accessible , and that the vehicle features a reliable air compressor and air brakes for added safety . Finally , he complimented the vehicle ’ s lighting and easy-tonavigate interior layout . “ It seems to be a well-thought-out design , and overall , just a great bus ,” he said .
Frates added that he is excited to see the students ’ reaction to the new Type A electric buses . For field trips , it will mean a transition from parent-aided transportation into a fully yellow bus experience . “ It ’ s a great experience ,” he said . “ For little ones , like the kids in kindergarden , it ’ s an adventure on the yellow bus . Whether it ’ s visiting a pumpkin patch on Halloween , or visiting the Dimeo Lane Resource Recovery Facility here in Santa Cruz , these 30-passenger buses are going to be a big hit next year . It ’ s going to be really exciting .”
Preparing for Service Frates said that the district has 11 bus routes and plans to utilize its electric vehicles ( including the three RIDE Type A buses ) as much as possible – only using the diesel and gas vehicles as backups when necessary . The district has not yet fully completed its EV infrastructure installation , due to some material shortages as well as needing to prioritize certain other district projects . That said , Frates is confident that infrastructure implementation will progress smoothly soon . “ We have been planning this for several years , which sets us up well for installation ,” he said . “ We have a place designated for the transformer . By September , we should have 10 charging stations . That will accommodate our current fleet , and by that time we should also have 10 electric vehicles in total .”
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