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Starting this Sunday, riders on Metro's #63 Fondren route will see something new. The transit agency is trying out an all-electric bus.
The bus is manufactured by Proterra, a California-based company that produces zero-emission vehicles. Metro says it will test the bus for 90 days to see if it would work here in Houston. As for why they chose the Fondren route, Metro CEO Tom Lambert says that's so they can charge the bus at the nearby Missouri City Park and Ride. He adds they will actively seek rider feedback during the testing period.
Metro's fleet currently has over 1,200 buses. Some run on clean diesel, others are hybrids, and there's a few that run on compressed natural gas.