Buellton, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) and Caltrans debuted a zero-emission intercity bus today that SBCAG will operate in its Clean Air Express commuter bus service between Santa Maria and Lompoc and employment locations in South Santa Barbara County. The battery electric bus features a 220-mile range, easily meeting the longest Clean Air Express round trip of 150 miles. The purchase was made possible through funding provided by Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, and Measure A, Santa Barbara County’s transportation sales tax measure.
“We know that transportation is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States,” said SBCAG Board of Directors Chair Das Williams. “A switch to cleaner, quieter, and smoother public transit options is a switch in the right direction, one that is imperative for our future – for our children and neighbors. Today we see just how the zero-emission vehicle industry’s evolving technology is changing the game for long-range transportation options improving the efficiency, experience, and commuter benefits to save energy and the environment.”
The Clean Air Express serves more than 7,000 passengers each month with nine weekday round trips. The commuter bus service supports residents of Lompoc, Santa Maria, Buellton, Solvang, and adjacent unincorporated areas in North Santa Barbara County commuting to jobs in Goleta and Santa Barbara.