The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) welcomed its first all-electric maintenance vehicle on April 12. The Smith Electric Vehicle will be used to service and clean the agency’s Troost MAX and Main Street MAX Bus Rapid Transit lines, along with other Metro stops.

The truck operates with lithium-ion batteries and a 120kw electric motor; it has a top speed of 50 mph and a range of 100 miles on a full charge. It is designed to operate effectively in urban environments that demand heavy stop-and-go driving.

“KCATA’s commitment to the environment is more than a one-day celebration,” said General Manager Mark Huffer. “Our business is cleaner transportation, and we’re excited to be able to make this improvement to our maintenance fleet.”

On the same day, KCATA opened its newest park-and-ride, at 95th & Troost, which includes a charging station for the maintenance truck. KCATA expects to save more than $100,000 on fuel and maintenance over the life of the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 49 tons a year.

The 95th & Troost Park-and-Ride is a joint project of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and KCATA, and is located on the periphery of the GSA’s employee parking lot.

Participants in dedication ceremonies for KCATA’s all-electric, zero emissions maintenance truck include, from left, Geoff Jolley, representing Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO); Kansas City, MO, Councilman John Sharp; Mokhtee Ahmad, Federal Transit Administration regional administrator for Region VII; KCATA General Manager/Chief Executive Officer Mark Huffer; Jason Klumb, GSA regional administrator, Heartland Region; and KCATA Board of Commissioners Chairman Robbie Makinen.