600-series Proterra BE40/ZX5 - Updates

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

53 minutes ago, YoungBusLover said:

I think that the 15 or 6400s has FG will get retired by the summer of 2022 once all is said and done. The real question is where do the #8350s fit in this equation? One can assume that at least the first 30-40 buses will get delivered by then.

the good question is which garage will see them? we had NP use some 6400’s we have K currently using 7900’s so K could possibly see an increase in nova’s at their garage when the 8350’s come and some other garages that we don’t know about 

[BusHunter]

2 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

I think that the 15 or 6400s has FG will get retired by the summer of 2022 once all is said and done. The real question is where do the #8350s fit in this equation? One can assume that at least the first 30-40 buses will get delivered by then.

The 8350s are most likely going south to most likely 103rd. FG will keep whats good in the 1100 series. FG seems to be setting up to be one garage that will have some of the 400 #1000s when the dust settles. 

Im kind of disheartened to hear they are doing only 100 buses to start. Thats barely going to equip 103rd. Hopefully the options stack up so its a continuous delivery or we'll be here forever getting these novas. 

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

1 hour ago, BusHunter said:

The 8350s are most likely going south to most likely 103rd. FG will keep whats good in the 1100 series. FG seems to be setting up to be one garage that will have some of the 400 #1000s when the dust settles. 

Im kind of disheartened to hear they are doing only 100 buses to start. Thats barely going to equip 103rd. Hopefully the options stack up so its a continuous delivery or we'll be here forever getting these novas. 

i mean if anything 103rd can send their 1051-1200 range to FG and FG can send em 8231-8324 along with 8343-8349 and on top 103rd can get some 8350’s

[YoungBusLover]

4 hours ago, BusHunter said:

The 8350s are most likely going south to most likely 103rd. FG will keep whats good in the 1100 series. FG seems to be setting up to be one garage that will have some of the 400 #1000s when the dust settles. 

Im kind of disheartened to hear they are doing only 100 buses to start. Thats barely going to equip 103rd. Hopefully the options stack up so its a continuous delivery or we'll be here forever getting these novas. 

I'd hope for a split of 50 of the first 100 to both garages. If the split doesn't happen then the next best thing is for the elder #7900s from 77th to transition to either FG/103rd in exchange for #1000s/#1100s, if they do it that way you could easily start retiring buses after the 2nd option comes into play the following year. 

3 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

i mean if anything 103rd can send their 1051-1200 range to FG and FG can send em 8231-8324 along with 8343-8349 and on top 103rd can get some 8350’s

I doubt CTA would want to send any 8230/8320s to 103rd. Both garages are deserving of an overhaul in there fleets though. 77th is the key in my honest opinion. I would hope that they don't receive anything more than training bus and not actual blocks for revenue service.  

[NovaBusFan]

On 11/11/2021 at 10:56 AM, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

the good question is which garage will see them? we had NP use some 6400’s we have K currently using 7900’s so K could possibly see an increase in nova’s at their garage when the 8350’s come and some other garages that we don’t know about 

9 times out of 10 I bet 103rd will get them while they give some #1000s or #1100s to FG. Once all 600 buses are delivered I guarantee all 7 garages will have them (my guess). 

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

1 hour ago, NovaBusFan said:

9 times out of 10 I bet 103rd will get them while they give some #1000s or #1100s to FG. Once all 600 buses are delivered I guarantee all 7 garages will have them (my guess). 

could be on top of that FG got 1079 1122 1135 and 1161 

[NovaBusFan]

18 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

could be on top of that FG got 1079 1122 1135 and 1161 

True

[YoungBusLover]

#618-#620 are at SS. Was the order for 25 #600s still a thing or was it trimmed down to 20?

[NovaBusFan]

39 minutes ago, YoungBusLover said:

#618-#620 are at SS. Was the order for 25 #600s still a thing or was it trimmed down to 20?

Wow. I was thinking they could push it up to 45 electrics or not. I think it may be past 20 because of #620. 

[NewFlyerMCI]

3 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

#618-#620 are at SS. Was the order for 25 #600s still a thing or was it trimmed down to 20?

 

2 hours ago, NovaBusFan said:

Wow. I was thinking they could push it up to 45 electrics or not. I think it may be past 20 because of #620. 

It'll be for 20. About ~8 more of the Proterra's should be hitting the streets in Dec-Jan.

[BusHunter]

38 minutes ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

 

It'll be for 20. About ~8 more of the Proterra's should be hitting the streets in Dec-Jan.

Counting 600 is already 21 buses.

[YoungBusLover]

2 hours ago, BusHunter said:

Counting 600 is already 21 buses.

10-4 

2 hours ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

 

It'll be for 20. About ~8 more of the Proterra's should be hitting the streets in Dec-Jan.

Let's hope they're able to make there debut in the snow.

[NovaBusFan]

3 hours ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

 

It'll be for 20. About ~8 more of the Proterra's should be hitting the streets in Dec-Jan.

Aw ok

[BusHunter]

So if SS has 15 Proterras where are they storing them all?

[Sam92]

1 hour ago, BusHunter said:

So if SS has 15 Proterras where are they storing them all?

They’re really getting the 4300 treatment. Coming in, being held for so long we question when we’ll see them then they just pop out on the street. Seen one on grand the other day

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

1 hour ago, Sam92 said:

They’re really getting the 4300 treatment. Coming in, being held for so long we question when we’ll see them then they just pop out on the street. Seen one on grand the other day

i remember 2 years ago 4300 was out only on the J14 and then went bye bye again 

[NovaBusFan]

17 hours ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

 

It'll be for 20. About ~8 more of the Proterra's should be hitting the streets in Dec-Jan.

Aw ok.

[NovaBusFan]

9 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

i remember 2 years ago 4300 was out only on the J14 and then went bye bye again 

Sad. Most likely majority of prototypes don’t really be in service as much as the rest of the fleet.

[BusHunter]

Passed by SS last night. There was like 5 new buses on the 79th fence all wrapped up in electric bus colors. #606,#610, #613 were some of them. Maybe they are waiting for the newest ones to get wrapped and theyll release them all. 

[YoungBusLover]

3 hours ago, BusHunter said:

Passed by SS last night. There was like 5 new buses on the 79th fence all wrapped up in electric bus colors. #606,#610, #613 were some of them. Maybe they are waiting for the newest ones to get wrapped and theyll release them all. 

#606 has been OOS for a while now, #607 was out this past week at Midway testing out the charger there, #608-#620 are all wrapped and getting prepped for service at SS. #603 is a lone wolf though still not moving since the accident.

[NovaBusFan]

30 minutes ago, YoungBusLover said:

#606 has been OOS for a while now, #607 was out this past week at Midway testing out the charger there, #608-#620 are all wrapped and getting prepped for service at SS. #603 is a lone wolf though still not moving since the accident.

#603 is likely waiting for repairs 

[YoungBusLover]

45 minutes ago, NovaBusFan said:

#603 is likely waiting for repairs 

Yeah that's obvious....

[Sam92]

I need to hurry and put some mirrors on my new bike. Third time I mistaked a 600 for an ebike ?

[Policeman]

4 minutes ago, Sam92 said:

 

I need to hurry and put some mirrors on my new bike. Third time I mistaked a 600 for an ebike ?

 

???

[rl12383]

This may provide some insight into how many buses were purchased, and when will they be put into service:

https://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/6/Nov2021_-_Electric_Bus_Update_for_Board_Meeting.pdf

 

In summary:

- 8 Proterra buses will be in service by the end of this year. 17 more next year. 

- An option for 22 additional Proterra buses has NOT been executed (yet).

- Grant for 6 Nova E-buses (unclear if this grant has been executed and buses ordered).