Media Advisory: UB, partners to celebrate 8 new electric buses on Monday

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo and its partners – transportation provider WeDriveU and fleet electrification specialists Zenobē – will celebrate the launch of eight new, battery-electric transit buses.

The 40-foot-buses are part of the UB Stampede fleet that shuttles students, employees and visitors between university campuses. They are the first UB Stampede vehicles to transition away from diesel power, and are already in regular service as part of a transit system that carries approximately 16,000 passengers each day.

"Our goal is to provide safe, reliable transportation while continuing to reduce our environmental impact,” said Christopher Austin, director of parking and transportation at UB. "These buses help us do both. They improve the rider experience today and represent another investment in the future of mobility at UB.”

Members of the news media are invited to check out the buses.

When: Noon on Monday, Aug. 31.

Where: Flint Loop on North Campus.

Background: The university plans to continue phasing diesel buses out of the Stampede fleet over the next four years, aligning with the university's transition of all fleet vehicles to electric under the new UB Climate Action Policy. Ten chargers have been installed at the Stampede depot to support the transition.

“We’re proud to provide the University at Buffalo community with safe, dependable and innovative transportation," said Tim Wayland, chief commercial officer of WeDriveU. “Together with UB and Zenobē, we're showing how such partnerships can help universities smoothly transition to zero-emission fleets while delivering the reliability that students, faculty and staff expect.”

“Fleet operators and institutions need confidence that their electric buses will be ready to perform every day,” said Matt Curwood, vice president of business development-transit, Zenobē North America. “Zenobē’s giving that certainty through thoughtful planning, reliable charging infrastructure and long-term operational support. It’s gratifying to see UB’s fleet in service.”