Chicago suburb debuts electric paratransit fleet
Souce: https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/, Dan Zukoski, Senior Reporter, First Published Oct 14th, 2025
Electric transit and paratransit fleets have grown in recent years, aided by federal funding for low- or zero-emission transit buses. Such funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s Buses and Bus Facilities and Low or No Emission Bus competitive grant programs has continued under the Trump administration, with a $1.5 billion funding round in May.
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a pilot program last year, adding 15 electric vans to its paratransit fleet. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency plans to transition its paratransit fleet to be all-electric over 20 years and Pace Suburban Bus, which serves the Chicago region, debuted its first electric paratransit vehicle last year.
Polara, a charging system supplier, provided the 60 kW dual-connector fast chargers along with an energy management cabinet. “This project carries special meaning for us because of its strong social impact,” Polara President Sébastien Fournier said in a statement.
Micro Bird, a U.S. and Canadian manufacturer of buses capable of carrying up to 28 passengers, provided the vehicles for this project.
