Altairnano Batteries Make Proterra A Magic Bus | Autopia | Wired.com

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Altairnano Batteries Make Proterra A Magic Bus

There was a rare show of bipartisan support on Capitol Hill as senators from both sides of the aisle marveled at a fast-charging electric bus that may be coming soon to a city near you.

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Evan Bayh (D-Indiana) and John Ensign (R-Nevada, shown yakking into the mic above) mugged for the cameras last week and took turns playing Ralph Kramden behind the wheel of a 35-foot fast-charging Proterra Eco-Ride bus. While it’s startling to see Republicans and Democrats united over anything these days, the batteries that power the Proterra are pretty amazing.

Tucked under the floor of the bus are lithium titanate batteries from Altairnano . The company claims they can cover a 2.5 hour-long bus route after a single five or ten minute rapid charge and says the batteries have an expected lifespan of 12 to 15 years in any climate. Those stats make the batteries ideal for public transportation, the ...

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