FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2025

CONTACT
Kate Mason
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(615) 419-5185

Augusta, GA – Augusta residents joined city leaders, community partners, and transit riders today to celebrate the launch of Augusta Transit’s first five battery-electric buses—the first of their kind in the Central Savannah River Area. The ribbon cutting ceremony, held October 13 at Augusta Transit’s maintenance facility, marked a major milestone in the city’s efforts to modernize its transit system and improve air quality.

The new buses were funded through a $6.2 million Federal Transit Administration Low or No Emission Vehicle Program (Low-No) grant. They are designed to reduce noise along city streets, eliminate tailpipe emissions, and provide a smoother, more comfortable ride for both passengers and drivers.

To support the fleet, Augusta Transit partnered with Georgia Power to install six commercial-grade ChargePoint charging stations at the city’s maintenance facility. Each charger can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and fully charge a bus in six to eight hours, ensuring reliable daily operations.

The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), an Atlanta-based nonprofit specializing in clean transportation, guided the project using its zero-emission Smart Deployment Methodology. CTE will continue to collect and analyze performance data over the next year to help Augusta build a long-term zero-emission strategy.

“Today’s ribbon cutting is the result of strong collaboration between local leadership, utility partners, and federal funding,” said Todd Walton, Senior Project Manager at CTE. “Augusta is setting an example for how communities can bring zero-emission transit to life.”

Augusta Transit provides fixed route and demand response/ADA transportation services in Richmond County, serving more than 2,500 riders daily. The five new battery-electric buses are scheduled to begin service later this fall, with an additional six expected to join the fleet in 2027–2028.

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ABOUT CTE

The Center for Transportation and the Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the health of our climate and communities by bringing people together to develop and commercialize clean, efficient, and sustainable transportation technologies. CTE collaborates with federal, state, and local governments, fleets, and vehicle technology manufacturers to complete our mission. If interested in learning more about CTE, please visit cte.tv.