Proterra Inc, a provider of electric vehicle transit technology, has sold two 40-foot (12 meter) battery-electric transit vehicles and a fast charge system to King County Metro in Seattle, Wash. Following a one-year trial period, the agency has the pre-arranged option to purchase up to 200 more buses and additional fast charge systems, depending on the outcome of the demonstration.

A pioneer in clean technology for transit, King County Metro’s fleet currently incorporates electric trolley and diesel-hybrid vehicles. The ability to test and deploy more EV buses like Proterra’s may allow the agency to meet its goal of moving toward an all-electric and hybrid-electric fleet.

“Driven by strong economic and environmental benefits, the public transportation market is adopting EV technology and proving-out the business case,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “King County Metro’s willingness to adopt EV buses as a means to reduce emissions and fuel costs will help other agencies understand and perfect the deployment of EV transit vehicles.”

Funding for the 40-foot zero-emission electric buses and fast charge system, which are scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2015, will be provided by FTA TIGGER funding and matching funds from King County.

With this purchase, the Seattle area is the latest in a group of metropolitan areas, including Stockton and Pomona, Calif.; San Antonio, Texas; Worcester, Mass.; Tallahassee, Fla.; Seneca, S.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Reno, Nev.; and Louisville, Ky., to purchase and deploy Proterra EV transit technology. Proterra EV buses have logged nearly 500,000 road miles, powered 100% by clean local electricity.