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“BATA is always looking for ways to make its fleet greener, more environmentally friendly,” said Eric Lingaur, the authority’s communications and development director. “And putting electric vans as part of our fleet makeup is really exciting.”
Lingaur said they’re aiming to replace 5 to 10% of the fleet a year, “phasing out older gas and diesel vehicles in our fleet and replacing them with these electric vans.”
BATA serves Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties.
Lingaur said ridership has fluctuated. Before the pandemic, the agency was at around 500,000 rides a year. Those numbers dropped in 2020 and are climbing back up — last year they were back at around 400,000 rides.
The Ford E-transit vans run about $115,000 each and were paid for through federal and state grants.
The 10-seat vans aren’t as big as the buses BATA operates. Two of the vans will be able to hold wheelchairs.
And while BATA offers regular bus routes, these vans will be used for its door-to-door Link service, where passengers can schedule rides for $6, or a reduced fare of $3.
The vans can travel up to 130 miles on a single charge, but Lingaur said they’re hoping to use these initial months to better understand and adjust to other factors, like how the weather affects the battery charge.
BATA is planning to install chargers at the new operations headquarters currently under construction at the corner of Hammond and LaFranier Roads in Garfield Township and at its main transfer station in Traverse City.
“[A van] can stay out on the road longer and get charged out basically in the field as it's providing transportation throughout the day,” Lingaur said.
