TriMet unveils first all-electric bus

TriMet General Manager Doug Kelsey speaks at the press conference where the first electric bus is unveiled.

 Courtesy TriMet

TriMet is scheduled to put its first electric bus into service on Friday, and promises that all of them will be powered by 100% renewable wind energy in partnership with Portland General Electric.

Representatives of the regional transit agency and Portland-based utility made the announcements at a Tuesday press conference where they showed off the first bus. It will begin serving TriMet Line 62-Murray Boulevard in Washington County on April 19. Four more electric buses will soon be added to the line, TriMet said, and the entire bus fleet will be converted from diesel to electric power by 2040.