The Proterra ZX5 is a
battery electric bus
A battery electric bus is an electric bus that is driven by an electric motor and obtains energy from on-board batteries. Many trolleybuses use batteries as an auxiliary or emergency power source.
In 2018, the National Renewable Energy Laborator ...
that is built by American electric vehicle company,
Proterra. Introduced in 2020, the bus is Proterra's primary product, and is the third generation of battery electric bus built by the company.
History
On September 15, 2020, Proterra announced the replacement to the
Catalyst
Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...
, the ZX5, available in nominal lengths.
Edmonton Transit System
The Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) (previously known as Edmonton Transit System) is the public transit service owned and operated by the City of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. It operates Edmonton's bus and light rail systems. In , the system h ...
of
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city anc ...
, Alberta was the launch customer for the 40-foot ZX5.
Background
Design updates
The ZX5 features the same fiberglass and balsa wood body structure as the Catalyst, but incorporate design changes to both increase battery capacity and standardization with electric vehicle charging protocols. The overall appearance of the vehicle is more angular, while the roof fairing is more streamlined with provisions for roof-mounted battery packs, as well as optional integrated roof charger rails.
The redesigned roof fairing has decreased overall height by compared to the Catalyst.
Multiple battery options are offered on the ZX5, designated ZX5, ZX5+, and ZX5 MAX for the 220, 440, and models, respectively. Each of the three battery options is also offered with one of two drivetrains, which Proterra brands DuoPower or ProDrive.
The standard ZX5 model, with a 220 kWh energy storage system (corresponding to the previous Catalyst XR model), can travel up to (for the 35 ft or 40 ft models, respectively) on a single charge, depending on the configuration of the vehicle. The ZX5+ model with 440 kWh (corresponding to the Catalyst E2 model) can travel up to (35 ft or 40 ft) on a single charge. The ZX5MAX is the longest-range option available. With 660 kWh, the ZX5MAX can travel up to on a single charge. The ZX5MAX battery option is only available for the 40-foot length ZX5.
DuoPower models use two independent motors, operating at a claimed , depending on the battery and body length. ProDrive models use a single motor, with slightly lower equivalent efficiency ranging from .
Curb weights range between for the 35-foot models and between for 40-foot models, with ProDrive models being approximately heavier than their DuoPower equivalents.
In 2022, Proterra introduced an updated ProDrive 2.0 which pairs the motor with a four-speed transmission from Eaton with electric shifting. This new transmission allows buses to climb steeper grades, accelerate faster, and operate more efficiently, extending range.
Charging
The ZX5 can be charged using the
SAE J3105
SAE J3105 is a recommended practice for automated connection devices (ACD) that mate chargers with battery electric buses and heavy-duty vehicles. The practice is maintained by the SAE International with the formal title "Electric Vehicle Power Tr ...
(OppCharge) overhead charging protocol while stopped on a layover (opportunity charging) or while parked in a storage yard, or with a plug-in
J1772 CCS DC fast charger when parked in a storage yard.
The ZX5 with any battery option can be fully charged in around 2.9 hours using the OppCharge system, which offers a maximum charging rate of 330 kW.
Utilizing plug-in charging, the standard ZX5 takes around 2.9 hours to be fully charged, while the ZX5 MAX takes around 4.7 hours to be fully charged at a more limited rate of 132 kW, assuming a 200 A DC power supply.
One CCS charge port is standard at the rear curbside corner, and an additional CCS port can be added either at the front curbside or rear streetside corner.
References
External links
{{Commons
Proterra transit buses product page
Buses of the United States
Buses of Canada
Battery electric buses
Vehicles introduced in 2020
Low-floor buses
Single-deck buses
Proterra vehicles