Yosemite to improve air quality with purchase of zero-emission buses

Credit: Proterra

Yosemite National Park will become the first national park in America to permanently add zero-emissions buses to its fleet following the purchase of  two Proterra Catalyst buses.

Situated in California’s iconic Sierra Nevada Mountains, adding zero-emission buses to its shuttle fleet offers visitors a modern and ecologically-friendly transportation option.

With more than five million visitors coming to Yosemite each year from around the world, Yosemite has relied heavily on their shuttle program to encourage park visitors to use a bus to circulate the park.  Each year, Yosemite has seen its free shuttle service travel 436,000 miles annually with 3.8 million boardings.  In 2001, the park began replacing its diesel bus fleet with diesel-electric hybrid vehicles. Yosemite is now taking the next step toward a state-of-the-art clean transportation system with the adoption of Proterra’s zero-emission, battery-electric buses.

The new Catalyst buses are expected to reduce 887,000 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions annually and save approximately $150,500 on maintenance and operating costs. They will begin service in late 2018 and will operate all year round, transporting up to 1,480 visitors per day through the park’s Yosemite Valley.

“Our mission has always been to preserve our nation’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations and Proterra’s zero-emission vehicle technology will be indispensable as we continue to work toward this goal,” said Chip Jenkins, Acting Superintendent, Yosemite National Park. “Since its establishment in 1890, airborne pollutants have steadily degraded Yosemite’s resources. Deploying Proterra’s battery-electric buses will help with this ongoing challenge and greatly improve local air quality.”  

In addition, the US General Services Administration has committed to greening the federal fleet, working with businesses to make cleaner, quieter transportation readily available and affordable to partner agencies. Citing Proterra for its innovative technologies and best practices, the GSA added the Proterra Catalyst to federal fleet acquisition options. 

“Yosemite was the first wild-land protected in the United States, by President Abraham Lincoln, over 150 years ago” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “The Proterra team is especially proud to directly contribute to the preservation of Yosemite National Park. We believe that upholding the environmental integrity of our nation’s most precious resources is of paramount importance”.