New electric buses are on the road in Columbia with more on the way

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia has three new electric city buses on routes this summer, with three more getting ready to hit the road.

Public Works spokesperson John Ogan said Tuesday the department had six new Model K8M electric buses delivered to the city this summer. Three are already on Go COMO routes, while three others will be ready for use soon.

The cost of the buses was not immediately available Wednesday morning.

Ogan said the department is getting license plates and installing radios in the remaining three buses.

According to a June Facebook post by Columbia's Office of Sustainability, the new buses are 35 feet long and offer increased seating capacity compared to the city's current buses.

The post says the new buses have batteries that can be fully charged in three hours and offer 30% more range.

"Not only are they a huge step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but they also provide a quiet and smooth ride that our riders prefer," the post says.

The manufacturer's website said each bus eliminates around 1,690 tons of carbon dioxide over its 12-year lifespan.

Each bus is equipped with a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery and has a 12-year battery warranty. It claims to be the "world's safest battery."

Lithiumhub.com said these batteries are the safest type of lithium battery because they won't overheat and won't catch fire.

Check back for updates.