Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. representatives and officials from the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority introduced a new electric bus Friday (4/21) to operate in downtown Allentown beginning in May.

The battery-powered bus, called "Metro Electric," is part of a two-year project designed to develop and test innovative charging systems and passenger space heating and cooling systems for electric buses.

"This project will help us learn more about extending the range and battery life of electric-powered buses," said Preston L. Roberts, PP&L's electric vehicle program manager. "We believe EVs represent a window to the future in transportation technology, and Metro Electric is one more example of how electrotechnology will play an important role in meeting the country's environmental and energy independence goals."

Metro Electric, built by Advance Vehicle Systems Inc., of Chattanooga, Tenn., features a top speed of 45 miles an hour and a range of 50 to 75 miles per charge. It's made of lightweight materials, powered by industrial-type lead acid batteries and equipped with a sophisticated computer to collect data about the vehicle's charge patterns, range and speed.

The electric bus will be used to shuttle passengers throughout the downtown Allentown area. It may later be used in other applications in the Metro system.

"We look forward to operating this electric bus in our fleet," said Armando V. Greco, executive director of LANTA. "This is an exciting opportunity to offer an environmentally friendly service to area residents and collect research information that will help establish an infrastructure for electric vehicles in the future."

The electric bus cost $260,000 to build. PP&L provided a grant of $60,000; the Electric Power Research Institute, through PP&L, funded $120,000; and LANTA provided $80,000.