Bus industry changing to electric

Abstract

Summary form only given. The Advanced Vehicle Systems, Inc. (AVS) twenty-two-foot battery powered electric bus is a high quality shuttle vehicle produced in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The vehicle's evolution comes from over three years proving out experience in a 3 mile circulator route operated by the Chattanooga Area Regional Transit Authority (CARTA) in the core downtown area of Chattanooga. The bus is purpose built even to the point of AVS constructing its own monocoque chassis in-house to produce a strong, but lighter weight vehicle than the conventional diesel bus. The bus is driven by a 100 HP alternating current induction motor through a rear differential axle. Power to drive the motor comes from on board lead-acid batteries which are highly recyclable upon completion of their useful life. The monocoque construction allows AVS to produce a low floored ease-of-entry vehicle with step height of approximately twelve inches, making it very user-friendly, especially to senior citizens and children. Complementing the low floor is a built-in wheelchair ramp which is virtually maintenance-free. The air ride suspension capability built into the bus of "kneeling" the front axle allows disabled passengers to board the bus very easily.