****************************************************************** JOINT NEWS RELEASE FROM California Energy Commission California Department Of Transportation National Park Service Pacific Gas And Electric Company Yosemite Concession Services Corporation ****************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 22, 1995 AGENCIES DEDICATE ELECTRIC BUSES AT YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif., Sept. 22 A dedication ceremony for two new electric-powered shuttle buses was jointly hosted today at the Valley Visitor Center in Yosemite National Park by the National Park Service, the California Energy Commission, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), and Yosemite Concession Services Corporation. Master of ceremonies was Energy Commission Chairman Charles Imbrecht, and the keynote speaker was U. S. Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary John Garamendi. Other speakers included Yosemite's Superintendent B.J. Griffin, CalEPA Secretary Jim Strock, Caltrans District 6 Planning Division Chief D. Alan McCuen, PG&E Yosemite Division Manager Steve Rath and Yosemite Concession Services President Gary Fraker. "This project is a perfect example of government and the private sector working together to accomplish major goals," said Energy Commission Chairman Charles R. Imbrecht. "Hopefully, some of the millions of Yosemite visitors who will ride these buses will convince decision-makers in their home towns to use electric buses, and they'll choose California electric bus makers -- like APS Systems and Specialty Vehicles -- to provide those buses." "No odors, no noise, no pollution ... no loss of jobs, and a new industry for California," Deputy Secretary of the Interior John Garamendi said as he dedicated the two new electric buses that will be used to move visitors around the floor of the world's most famous valley. "President Clinton said that protecting the environment was good for jobs and this proves it. These buses are manufactured in California and I believe a new industry will grow up here while we use this technology to clean up our nation's air." "Visitors are not blasted by noise and fumes when these vehicles pass by. You will actually hear the waterfalls," Garamendi continued. "I'd like to see electric buses on the Mall in Washington and in every national park where auto and bus traffic is a problem." The electric buses are a demonstration project involving new technology in air pollution control and alternative fuel vehicles. The buses will be used as shuttles to carry park visitors throughout Yosemite Valley, thereby reducing tailpipe emissions. After an initial testing period, the National Park Service may order more electric buses for Yosemite and other national parks. Yosemite hopes to eventually replace older diesel fuel buses with clean, quiet electric shuttles. The electric buses at Yosemite will help acquire needed data regarding the operation of electric vehicles in public and private fleets. The purpose is to evaluate electric vehicle technologies in real life applications and to assist in the determination of electric vehicle infrastructure needs. The buses will also be used to gather needed information about wintertime performance in snow and, below-freezing temperatures. "This project is an excellent opportunity for us to gather more information about the recharging needs of electric vehicles under a wide variety of conditions," said Steve Rath, PG&E Yosemite Division Manager. "As electric vehicles become more a part of everyday life for our customers, PG&E will use this information to extend quality service to them so that recharging is convenient, safe and makes the most efficient use of electricity." Diesel buses in Yosemite currently travel three routes and carry more than 3.5 million people annually. The Valley Floor route -- where the electric buses will be used -- receives the most vehicle demand and passenger use (93.9 percent), with more buses being dispatched into service during seasonal peak periods. "Transportation is a vital issue in Yosemite," said Superintendent B.J. Griffin. "The addition of these two non- polluting buses to our fleet is a significant step forward in protecting and preserving Yosemite's natural resources, reducing noise and improving air quality for the park, as well as for the state of California." PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FORMED THREE YEARS AGO In 1992, agreements were reached between Yosemite National Park, PG&E and the Energy Commission for the purchase of a five- passenger Electric G-Van for use in support of the Yosemite Transportation System. The Electric G-Van was purchased and began operation in the spring of 1993. In 1993, Caltrans joined the "partnership" with the other agencies and the joint commission began planning the acquisition of three to four medium duty electric buses which would become part of the Yosemite Transportation System. "It's time to apply alternative energy sources to transportation in air quality sensitive areas like here in the Yosemite Valley," said Caltrans District 6 Planning Division Chief, D. Alan McCuen. Specialty Vehicle, of Downey, California, built a 30-foot bus, which seats 25 people and has additional space for 10 people to stand. APS Systems, of Oxnard, California, built a 35-foot bus, which seats 35 passengers with additional space for 15 people to stand. "Yosemite Concession Services is delighted to have an opportunity to participate in this experiment," said Gary Fraker, President, Yosemite Concessions Services Corporation. "We use electric vehicles successfully for routine company business and believe they prove daily that electric transportation is a viable alternative." In addition to the two electric buses and the electric G-Van, Yosemite Concession Services also has two electric mail/delivery trucks and two electric pickups in use. Electric vehicles have zero emissions. Regulations by the California Air Resources Board will require that two percent of vehicles offered for sale by auto companies in 1998 be zero emission vehicles. In the year 2003, the requirement will be increased to ten percent. Electric vehicles are seen as a way to meet state and federal air quality standards and to help diversify transportation fuel supplies. "Through the leadership of Governor Wilson, California is blazing the trail for innovations in clean air transportation -- including zero-emitting vehicles such as those which will quietly carry visitors through the valley floor of one of the world's great natural cathedrals," Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock said. PHOTOS AVAILABLE To download high-quality pictures of the Yosemite Electric Bus via the Internet, graphics/computer staff should use File Transfer Protocol software and do an "anonymous ftp" to: ftp://sna.com/files/ftp/pub/users/boba/yosemite/ Log on as "anonymous" and put your "e-mail address" in the password section. If you have any problems connecting, call Sacramento Network Access at 916-565-4505, Ext. 1 (support) or 302 (George Hall). FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Dapprich of the National Park Service, 209-372-0662 Bob Aldrich of the California Energy Commission, 916-654-4989 Karen Poch of Caltrans, 209-488-4001 # # # END OF FILE FILE NAME:95-09-22_Yosemite_Electric Buses_Dedicate