Ebuses Roll on the Streets of Los Angeles

Los Angeles, 30 November 1999 Early this morning the streets of downtown Los Angeles got a little cleaner and a little quieter as electric buses supplied by Ebus, Inc. began transporting delegates in support of the National League of Cities Convention. Ebus, a Los Angeles based manufacturer, has delivered these vehicles under a contract to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power with the specific intent of providing clean transportation for this high visibility event as well as next years Democratic National Convention.

The contract, awarded earlier this summer, consists of 15 transit buses and 3 trolley replicas. Both models seat 22 passengers and feature all ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) required components as standard equipment. The electric powered buses achieve a top speed of 43 mph and have a range of 50-60 miles on a single charge. An optional rapid charging system provides additional range for these vehicles.

"As a local manufacturer of electric buses, we were excited to help bring the Department of Water and Power's vision of clean public transportation to the local community" said William G. Webster, Jr., President of Ebus, Inc. "The League of Cities Convention is the perfect place to showcase our line of electric buses and the City of Los Angeles' commitment to green transit programs", Webster continued.

This bus order has delivered multiple economic benefits to Southern California, and specifically to Los Angeles County. To meet the aggressive delivery schedule required under this contract Ebus has employed 35 additional production workers from the local labor pool, not including increases in support staff. Additionally, heavy emphasis was placed on purchasing as many components and raw materials from local, state, and U.S. sources as possible. The net effect has been to return a high percentage of the contract dollars right back into the community that generated the funds for this important purchase.

Ebus is a recently formed electric-bus manufacturer, and current production models include 22-foot Transit Buses and Trolley Replicas with either all-electric or hybrid-electric propulsion systems. Both vehicles are low-floor platforms, have space for 22 seated passengers, are completely ADA compliant, and are fitted with anti-lock brakes, all as standard equipment. A battery management and cooling system designed to facilitate fast/opportunity charging is available as an option, as well as a wide range of accessories and configurations. Ebus is currently finalizing the design for a new 30-foot electric and hybrid-electric bus, which will be available in mid 2000.

Digital photos and video available upon request.