The Jule introduces its first electric bus

The Jule has added its first electric bus to its fleet, the City of Dubuque announced Friday. The fully electric Gillig bus has the same passenger capacity as the city's traditional buses but runs without diesel fuel, with less noise and vibration, smoother acceleration and lower maintenance and operating costs. It replaces a 2002 Gillig diesel bus and will serve fixed-route service. The $1,177,255 purchase was funded through a Federal Transit 5339 Capital Project Grant of $901,000, with the remaining $276,255 covered by city funds; the grant also supported a charging station for the bus. Staff estimate maintenance costs will run about 30 percent lower than a diesel bus, with fewer routine service needs such as oil changes and longer-lasting brakes, plus savings on energy costs. Dubuque's hills help the bus's battery charging system, which charges the batteries when the bus decelerates and goes downhill as the brakes are applied. 'Electric buses are already operating in communities throughout the Midwest, giving us an opportunity to learn from their experiences as we introduce this technology in Dubuque,' Transportation Director Ryan Knuckey said. The city has secured funding for two more electric buses, anticipated to arrive in 2029.