ZEPS Northwest Tour

The ZEPS (Zero Emission Propulsion system) bus from Complete Coach Works will stop in the Rogue Valley as part of its Northwest Tour.

This coming week we will be having two chances to learn more about the electric bus. A demonstration bus is coming up from the L.A. area to Grants Pass where they will “audition” the bus, along with two other manufacturers, for their upcoming purchase.

Tuesday, January 10 – Ashland

All stops will include information, rides and Q & A

  • 8:00 – 9:45 a.m. ScienceWorks, 1500 E. Main Street, Ashland
  • 10:00 –11:45 a.m. Mountain Meadows Clubhouse, 855 Mountain Meadows Drive, Ashland
  • 12:00 – 1:45 SOU Campus- Stephenson Union. General Public Welcome. 1250 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland
  • 2:00 – 3:45 p.m. Ashland High School, Auto Technology Program. Regular class (Not open to public)
  • 4:00 – 5:45 p.m. Chamber of Commerce. 110 E. Main Street (in front of Chamber Office/Starbucks) Ashland.

Wednesday, January 11

  • RVTD – Medford (Review by Service Department)

Thursday, January 12

Friday, January 13

If you would like to take the ride from Medford to Grants Pass, do lunch, and ride back to Medford, join us. Carpool option from Ashland (see below).

Here’s the plan:

On Friday, January 13th, we will gather at Front Street Station (the RVTD terminal across the parking lots from the Medfrod Public Library) at noon and then encourage/cheer Scott Chancey (the Grants Pass Transportation Supervisor who arranged this visit) in his media event – and maybe say a few words. (Wear your orange SOCAN shirt if you have one.)

The bus departs from Medford at 12:15 – arriving in Grants Pass at 1:15 when we will have lunch at “The Haul”.  Scott is arranging for the bus to get us within 2 blocks of  “The Haul” (121 SW H St, Grants Pass) or as close possible. We plan to leave Grants Pass around 2:45 pm arriving back at Front St by approximately 3:45 pm.

Medford Parking: (Link to parking information) Plan ahead and park in a place that allows more than 3-hour parking (Options: Pay by Plate, Evergreeen Parking Structure, Middleford Parking Structure)

This sounds like so much fun. Don’t wait until the last minute. If you know you want to join the carpool from Ashland, contact Donna (donaswan41@gmail.com).

Join us in the “SOCAN Great Electric Bus Ride Adventure!” 

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For health and environmental reasons, electric vehicles – including transit buses – are the wave of the future.

 

 

In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, transportation, (at 29%), ranks second only to utilities (33%) in its contribution to overall U.S. emissions.  Fully 95% of the emissions from transportation come in the form of carbon dioxide so any reduction in these emissions can have a huge impact.  Commuters are a large reason why suburban households are the greatest contributors to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions since, unlike inner city and rural residents, they travel back and forth on a daily basis, often by car.

Furthermore, because public transit contributes only about two thirds of the emissions per passenger mile travelled as does the private automobile, this imbalance could be redressed by increased use of public transit, especially if the buses are electric.   Electric buses, such as the Zero Emissions Propulsion Systems (ZEPS) buses of Complete Coach Works emit substantially less greenhouse gases than the other transportation systems (Diesel, Diesel hybrids or CNG) even under current conditions.  If powered by renewably generated electricity, the advantage would be zero enormous.

Additionally, according to the EPA, the health benefits of just one electric bus can reach as high as $55,000 per annum in health savings compared to the conventional diesel bus.  Since the average life expectancy of a bus is 12 years, this means each bus produces two thirds of a million dollars in health benefits.

A 40’ 35 passenger ZEPS (Zero Emissions Propulsion System) bus from Complete Coach Works (CCW) is coming to Grants Pass January 12-13. It will offer many along the way a chance to experience an electric vehicle at work! The electric bus visit is a technology demonstration and an introduction to what clean renewable energy transit can bring to the Rogue Valley. Its ultimate destination is Grants Pass where it is under consideration for purchase by Josephine Community Transit (JCT). Neighboring cities of Ashland and Medford, have been added to the schedule en route to Grants Pass so these cities can take advantage of the visit. The ZEPS bus visit will be a definite hands-on opportunity for the senses:  to see, touch, and experience a ride without the environmental pollution (smell) and disturbing sounds of traditional transit modes. Representatives from CCW accompany the bus to educate visitors and answer questions about the many advantages of this clean mode of public transportation.

Electric buses are rapidly replacing the heavily polluting buses of the past. In 2015 the federal Department of Transportation awarded Lane Transit District (LTD) a grant totaling nearly $3.5 million to buy and deploy five additional “zero-emission” electric buses for Eugene. The grant is part of the Federal Transit Administration’s Low- or No-Emission Vehicle Deployment Program, which was authorized in the FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act. The new buses replace old diesel buses that consumed 39,114 gallons of diesel fuel and idled for an estimated 2,951 hours each year. The new vehicles allow LTD to significantly reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases and particulate matter. Grants Pass is now ready to acquire an electric bus; JCT Program Supervisor, Scott Chancey, has arranged for the CCW bus visit to the Valley as part of their consideration for its purchase by JCT.

Americans are increasingly asking for cleaner cities as demonstrated by actions in Eugene. Showing the community’s enthusiasm for the purchase, when Lane Transit District officials announced their planned purchase of zero emission buses at an event organized by the Sierra Club, they unrolled a 50-foot banner of more than 1,000 signed postcards in support of cleaner buses. Backed by widespread community support, LTD is considering the purchase of more electric buses in years to come. In Eugene, LTD expects to save $42,550 from the five buses in equivalent fuel costs each year compared with diesel-electric hybrid models.

Communities in the Rogue Valley are turning to the electric bus as a means of decreasing their carbon footprint and in an attempt to provide a cleaner environment for residents and visitors. Zero emission buses are one important solution that will make our communities safer. Electric buses use electricity to power a battery, so there’s no gas guzzling, no dirty oil changes, no internal combustion engine, and no dirty exhaust. Whether it’s for buses or cars, electric vehicles are lower in emissions than conventional vehicles, even factoring in any emissions from the generation of electricity. And these electric buses and cars will get even cleaner over time as we switch to more renewable sources of power. Additionally, hydrogen fuel cell buses, when the hydrogen is derived from solar, are an intriguing transit option to add to our future transit possibilities.

All-electric transit buses provide a significant emission reduction potential. These buses coupled with 100% renewable energy generation can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 204 Short Tons per bus per year. A full bus takes 40 cars off the road. By utilizing public transportation there is also an emissions savings due to the all-electric drive system.

In Ashland, the Transportation Commission plans to hold a special meeting in early February dedicated to transit within Ashland. Consult the City’s Website for details. This is an open invitation to envision the future together with the Commissioners. The regular meeting on March 23 will have transit as the major agenda item. For a city such as Ashland, CCW also offers a trolley alternative in keeping with the unique character of the city.

GENERAL INFORMATION for this bus:

  • Range is up to 150 miles per charge. Capacity: 35-passengers
  • Can go to Medford from Ashland, to the airport, has a long range.
  • Able to make two Grants Pass – Medford round trip runs without having to recharge.

ZEPs Flyer