Antelope Valley Transit Authority Celebrates 10 Years Of Operating Electric Vehicles In Service

AVTA was recognized for its achievement. Pictured, left to right, are: Thomas Moreno, representing State Senator Scott Wilk; Isla Garcia, representing Assemblymember Juan Carrillo; Anna Zarley, representing Assemblyman Tom Lackey; Kathryn MacLaren, AVTA Alternate Board Director; Richard Loa, AVTA Board Director and City of Palmdale Mayor Pro Tem; Martin Tompkins, AVTA Executive Director/CEO; Marvin Crist, AVTA Chairman and City of Lancaster Vice Mayor; Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Supervisor; R. Rex Parris, City of Lancaster Mayor; Michelle Royal, AVTA Board Director; Judy Vaccaro-Fry, AVTA CFO; Dianne Knippel, AVTA Board Director; Raj Malhi, AVTA Board Director and City of Lancaster Council Member; and Jacqueline Owens, representing Congressman Mike Garcia. (Photo courtesy of AVTA)

In September 2014, California’s Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), under direction from forward-thinking board of directors, embarked on an historic journey to become the first transit agency in the nation to operate a 100% battery-electric zero-emission fleet by placing into service their first two electric buses.

On Oct. 15, 2024, AVTA staff; their board of directors; Los Angeles (CA) County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; Lancaster, CA, Mayor R. Rex Parris; and many other local elected officials and their representatives joined together to celebrate the agency’s 10-year anniversary of those first two electric buses beginning their journey.

“This is an incredible milestone and success,” AVTA Chairman of the Board Marvin Crist said. “Many transit agencies across the country are just now planning to purchase their first electric vehicle and AVTA is celebrating 10-years of operating electric vehicles in revenue service.”

Even before 2014, the Antelope Valley’s elected officials and AVTA’s Board of Directors had developed a vision for a zero-emission transportation fleet to serve the residents of the Northern Los Angeles County communities.

In early 2014, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich funded the purchase of two 40’ BYD battery electric buses. This was the beginning of AVTA’s historical 100% electric fleet. These electric vehicles endured road testing designed by AVTA staff and BYD engineers, using weights and sandbags to simulate riders. The feasibility tests showed these buses would work well for AVTA’s local service and in September 2014, were placed into revenue service.

“AVTA’s Electric Bus Fleet Conversion project was a huge success,” Crist said. “All of us, the staff, the board, and local officials, working together, created a smarter, greener, and more interconnected transit system.”

“AVTA’s 100% battery-electric fleet, the first and largest 100% electric fleet in North America, serves the Antelope Valley and areas extending south into the Los Angeles Basin,” according to a press release. “By using groundbreaking zero emission battery electric bus technology and wireless inductive charging technology, AVTA’s innovative bus conversion helped pioneer a new vision for what a 21st century transit agency can accomplish.”

AVTA (avta.com) provides local, commuter and dial-a-ride service to a population of more than 450,000 residents in the California cities of Lancaster and Palmdale as well as the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County. Its total service area covers 1,200 square miles.

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