Fort Lee-based Pioneer Power Solutions recently received an initial order from the city of Fairfield, California, for one e-Boost trailer-mounted unit to service the electric portion of Fairfield’s public bus fleet.
The unit will include high-capacity DC charging capability, utilizing a 200-kilowatt ChargePoint charger, independently powered by a 240 kW propane-fueled engine, all integrated on a mobile trailer.
Located in the North Bay subregion of the San Francisco Bay Area, Fairfield is the county seat of Solano County. With a population of 119,881 at the 2020 census, Fairfield is the home of Travis Air Force Base.
In August 2022, the Federal Transit Administration awarded a $12 million Bus and Low- and No- Emission Grant to the city of Fairfield for transit electrification. Fairfield was one of 150 transit agencies across the U.S. (19 agencies in California) to be awarded this funding.
The grant award covers the purchase of five GILLIG battery electric buses, three ChargePoint chargers, infrastructure upgrades, vehicle maintenance facility upgrades and workforce development. Along with the other state and local funds, this award provides enough funding for the first phase of transit electrification.
The California Air Resources Board adopted an Innovative Clean Transit regulation requiring all buses to be zero-emission by 2040. Fairfield-Suisun Transit has chosen to meet this mandate through electrification of its fleet. This competitive federal award is critical funding that will allow FAST to begin timely electrification infrastructure and maintenance upgrades at the city’s Corporation Yard.
David Renschler, fleet division manager at the city of Fairfield, commented, “It’s very important to us that we get our zero-emission vehicles into service as quickly as possible, and, once the permanent chargers have been installed, the e-Boost system will be available for both mobile charging and backup power for resilience during outages such as a power shut off event.”
“This is the first municipality to purchase e-Boost to support an electrified fleet,” Geo Murickan, head of Pioneer Power’s e-mobility business, said. “Cities around the world, and particularly in California, are converting public bus fleets to electric power. This trend, accelerated by climate mandates and supported by government grants, represents an exciting and evolving opportunity for us, one we expect to drive additional sales in the near-term.”
Pioneer Power expects to deliver the system in the fourth quarter.
“Over the coming months, we anticipate the municipal and school bus market will significantly expand as more fleets incorporate electric busses,” Nathan Mazurek, Pioneer Power’s chairman and CEO, said. “We believe that our flexible e-Boost system makes electric conversions easier, providing on-demand charging anytime and anywhere without costly fixed infrastructure investments.”
