Dulles to Transition to All-Electric Parking Shuttles

Dulles International Airport will begin a transition to all-electric powered buses for its parking shuttles. The recent purchase of five zero-emission vehicles will replace diesel-powered parking shuttles.

A grant provided by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is helping fund the purchase. The acquisition of the green fleet of buses will help the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority reach its goal of providing more sustainable transportation.

The purchase includes ZX5+ buses as well as three Proterra 150-kilowatt charging stations. Each Proterra transit bus contains a 450 kilowatt-hour battery that will allow for between 154 and 216 miles of service per charge. The charging stations can complete a full charge of each bus in under four hours.

All vehicles will feature a spacious 29-seat layout that is customized for airport service. Each bus will contain a large luggage rack for passengers’ items. In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, there will be designated seats that fold upright to provide ample space for two wheelchair positions with four-point restraints.

The five buses are scheduled for delivery and initial use in 2023. When the vehicles arrive, they will replace five older diesel buses currently in use at Dulles International Airport. This initiative is one of several that the Airport Authority has put in place to provide greener alternatives.