It's Electric: Charging Into the Future
Imagine a future where your bus ride is as clean as the air you breathe — no fumes, no emissions, just smooth, quiet rides. CATA is accelerating its drive toward sustainable public transit and making significant progress toward an all-electric future. While existing hybrid-electric buses are a step in the right direction, electrifying the fleet will further reduce carbon emissions and help achieve CATA’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2035.
With support from federal grants, CATA has ordered two all-electric, 40-foot buses, which will be the first full-size buses powered entirely by electricity to roll out on area roads.
The first bus is entering the fleet this year. The vehicle is the first all-electric powered bus to be added to the fleet, charging forward towards CATA’s commitment to zero emissions by 2035. Gillig’s zero emissions Battery Electric Bus boasts the highest Altoona Score ever achieved by a zero-emission bus. The 100-point FTA scoring system measures performance across structural integrity, safety, fuel economy and more.
“This bus isn’t just a new vehicle, it’s a symbol of our commitment to cleaner air, quieter streets and modern mobility for our community,” said CATA Chief Executive Officer Bradley T. Funkhouser. “By deploying this electric bus, we’re taking a decisive step toward our zero-emission target for 2035, and we’re doing so in partnership with local, state and federal leaders who share our vision.”
The second bus is expected to enter the fleet in 2026.
Both buses are purchased from U.S. manufacturers and will complement the eight other electric vehicles — four Chevy Bolts and four Chevy Equinoxes — already in the fleet.
With the commitment to sustainable transit solutions, CATA is not just driving buses — it’s driving the change needed for a cleaner, greener future.
View the fact sheet on CATA's first full-size electric bus.