Woodbridge Adds 3 Electric, Zero-Emission Buses To Senior Shuttles

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Woodbridge Twp. will soon start using three fully-electric, zero-emission shuttle buses for its senior citizen shuttles.

These are the buses Woodbridge uses to shuttle senior citizens from their homes, retirement homes and assisted-living facilities to doctor’s offices, shopping malls, restaurants and grocery stores.

The first of the buses was unveiled last week at the New Jersey League of Municipalities annual conference in Atlantic City.

Each shuttle bus is 24 feet long and can seat up to 14 passengers. They use 127-kWh Lithium-ion battery packs, which have a range of up to 105 miles and can be charged with both common Level 2 AC charging and DC fast charge.

According to Woodbridge Township, the fixed-route nature of their senior shuttle program ensures the buses can complete their rounds "well within the battery range" and then charge overnight to be ready for the next day's service.

“Helping senior citizens get out and about is so important to emotional and physical health, which is why this program is so critical for our residents,” said Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac. “These new buses will have an immediate and continuing beneficial heath impact on the senior citizens who ride on the shuttle bus, the driver of the bus, the Township employees who service the Township fleet and the Woodbridge communities through which it travels every day of the year.”

The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded grant funds to Woodbridge Township for six electric heavy-duty vehicles, three of which are all-electric Motiv shuttle buses. DEP used Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) funds for the grants.

The buses were built by Motiv Electric Trucks and Endera Motors, a leader in electric shuttle and school buses. The buses are made in America, with engineering, manufacturing and assembly in Michigan, Ohio and California. Hudson County Motors, a 70-year-old, family-owned truck dealer facilitated the sale and will continue to provide services for the fleet.

Motiv has developed, manufactured and deployed electric step vans, box trucks, shuttles and school buses for the last 15 years, putting more than 350 vehicles on the road that have collectively driven more than 4 million miles. Today, 10 of the largest 20 medium-duty truck fleets in North America have deployed Motiv vehicles, including Purolator, Vestis (formerly Aramark Uniform Services), Cintas, Bimbo Bakeries and other leading brands.