The buses have been funded through a $1.9-million grant arranged by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich to support an electric bus demonstration project in the Antelope Valley. The grant came from Proposition A local return funds and will cover the cost of both buses plus the charging system.

AVTA serves a population of more than 450,000 residents in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale as well as the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County. Its total service area covers 1,200 square miles and it is bounded by the Kern County line to the north, the San Bernardino County line to the east, the Angeles National Forest to the south and Interstate 5 to the west.

The AVTA hopes to have BYD’s electric buses in service by April of 2014, in order to begin testing on local routes for a 12-month period to determine their performance in the high desert climate. Additional electric buses may be purchased in the future to replace aging diesel buses should the technology prove successful in the region.

A wireless inductive charging system is also set to be installed at Lancaster City Park and at the Palmdale Transportation System to support the electric bus demonstration project.